Click the name of a planet to learn more about its visibility in October 2019: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury.
Watch for the moon to move up past Jupiter in the first few days of October.
The moon will be closest to Jupiter aroubnd September 3. Then, day by day, watch the moon move from the king planet Jupiter to the ringed planet Saturn. Read more.
Jupiter – the second-brightest planet after Venus – lords over the October 2019 evening sky. That’s because Venus sits close to the afterglow of sunset all month, leaving dazzling Jupiter to light up the evening sky. Jupiter pops out at dusk – brighter than any star – and stays out until mid-evening at mid-northern latitudes or until late evening at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Not sure which one is Jupiter? See the moon in Jupiter’s vicinity for several days, centered on or near October 3 and then again on or near Halloween.
Need more confirmation? Find a bright object you think is Jupiter, steady your binoculars – maybe sit down and anchor them on your knees, or prop your elbows on a fence railing – and aim them at that very bright light. If it is Jupiter, at least one or more of its four largest moons should pop into view.
At mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, Jupiter appears in the southwest sky at dusk. In early October, Jupiter sets around 9 p.m. (10 p.m. daylight saving time). By the month’s end, Jupiter sets nearly two hours earlier, around 7 p.m. (8 p.m. daylight saving time).
At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the king planet stays out till nearly midnight in early October, and then by late October, sets nearly two hours earlier, as well, around 10 p.m.
Try Stellarium Online for the view from your location.
That bright, fiercely twinkling red star – close to Jupiter on our sky’s dome this year – is Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion in the constellation Scorpius. In 2019, sky watchers have been watching Jupiter “wander” east and west relative to this zodiac star. In the first three months of 2019, Jupiter was traveling eastward, away from Antares. Starting on April 10, 2019, Jupiter reversed course, and began moving toward Antares. For four months (April 10 to August 11, 2019), Jupiter traveled in retrograde (or westward), closing the gap between itself and this star. Jupiter is now moving eastward again, away from Antares.
Look for the moon to pair up with Saturn on or near October 5, 2019. Read more.
Saturn. After you find Jupiter at dusk and nightfall, use this brilliant beauty of a planet to find another bright evening planet, Saturn. Saturn is not as bright as Jupiter, but the ringed planet shines on par with the sky’s brightest stars. Hold your fist at arm’s length. Saturn is nearly three fist-widths to the east of Jupiter. Because Saturn is the only bright-looking “star” to occupy this part of the sky, you’re not likely to mistake a bright star for Saturn.
Read more: When Jupiter and Saturn meet
Saturn – a golden world to the eye alone – pops out at nightfall and stays out until late evening. This planet still shines as brightly as a 1st-magnitude star, in other words, as brightly as our sky’s brightest stars.
Viewing Saturn’s rings soon? Read me 1st
At mid-northern latitudes, Saturn transits – reaches its highest point for the day – around sunset. In early October, Saturn sets around one hour before midnight (12 a.m. daylight saving time). Near the month’s end, Saturn plunges below the horizon around 9 p.m. (10 p.m. daylight saving time).
At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, in early October, Saturn transits – climbs highest up – around sunset, and sets about one and one-half hours after the midnight hour. By late October, Saturn sinks below the horizon about one-half hour before midnight.
You won’t mistake Jupiter for Saturn. Jupiter is significantly the brighter pf these two worlds. Jupiter ranks the fourth-brightest celestial object after the sun, moon and Venus, respectively, and the king planet outshines Saturn by about 10 times. What’s more, at nightfall and early evening in October 2019, Jupiter shines well to the west of Saturn.
Watch for the first quarter moon to join up with Saturn on October 5, as shown on the sky chart above.
The steep tilt of the ecliptic gives the Southern Hemisphere the great big advantage for catching Mercury and Venus after sunset. .
Mercury and Venus are both evening planets – at least nominally – all through October 2019, but both hover too close to the afterglow of sunset to be easily viewed with the unaided eye at mid-northern latitudes. From the Southern Hemisphere, or the northern tropics, you have a much better chance of catching both Mercury and Venus with the eye alone as dusk gives way to darkness throughout October 2019.
Note that Venus – the brightest planet – is far brighter than Mercury. Nonetheless, Mercury shines as brilliantly as a 1st-magnitude star all month long, though it dims somewhat throughout the month. Look for Mercury and Venus way below Jupiter and rather close to the horizon as dusk deepens into nightfall.
Depending on where you live worldwide, the planets Mercury and Venus will be in conjunction on October 29 or 30, 2019. On either date, however, look for these two worlds to occupy a single binocular field of view. What’s more, the moon will be nearby these worlds in late October, so think photo opportunity! The sky chart below and the accompanying link provide more information.
The young moon swings in the vicinity of the planets Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in late October 2019. The above chart is for North American mid-northern latitudes. Click here for more information plus a Southern Hemisphere sky chart.
By the way, at Mercury’s most recent inferior conjunction on July 21, 2019, Mercury swung to the south of the sun’s disk as seen from Earth. But when Mercury reaches its next inferior conjunction on November 11, 2019, the innermost planet will swing directly in front of the sun, to stage a transit of Mercury. Transits of Mercury happen more frequently than transits of Venus; they happen 13 or 14 times per century. The last transit of Mercury happened on May 9, 2016, and – after the one on this upcoming November 11 – the next Mercury transit won’t be until November 13, 2032.
You might not see Mars until late October 2019. The waning crescent moon will point to Mars on October 23, 24 and 25. On October 26, look for the moon to swing close to Mars on the sky’s dome. Read more.
Where is Mars? Note that the above sky chart is for late October! That’s because late October might be your first decent chance to catch this world before sunrise. Mars swung on the far side of the sun at superior conjunction on September 2, 2019, to transition from the evening to morning sky. Hiding in the glare of sunrise, Mars probably won’t become visible in the morning sky until late October or November 2019. Mars will be more easily viewed from the Northern Hemisphere and southern tropics than at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere.
What do we mean by bright planet? By bright planet, we mean any solar system planet that is easily visible without an optical aid and that has been watched by our ancestors since time immemorial. In their outward order from the sun, the five bright planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These planets actually do appear bright in our sky. They are typically as bright as – or brighter than – the brightest stars. Plus, these relatively nearby worlds tend to shine with a steadier light than the distant, twinkling stars. You can spot them, and come to know them as faithful friends, if you try.
Skywatcher, by Predrag Agatonovic.
Bottom line: In October 2019, two planets – Jupiter and Saturn – are easy to see throughout the month. They both come out at nightfall and are out until well after nightfall. Mercury and Venus are pretty much sitting in the afterglow of sunset, whereas Mars is hiding in the glare of sunrise. Click here for recommended almanacs; they can help you know when the planets rise and set in your sky.
Don’t miss anything. Subscribe to EarthSky News by email
Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze, and recommend a place we can all enjoy.
Help EarthSky keep going! Donate now.
Post your planet photos at EarthSky Community Photos
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/1YD00CF
Click the name of a planet to learn more about its visibility in October 2019: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury.
Watch for the moon to move up past Jupiter in the first few days of October.
The moon will be closest to Jupiter aroubnd September 3. Then, day by day, watch the moon move from the king planet Jupiter to the ringed planet Saturn. Read more.
Jupiter – the second-brightest planet after Venus – lords over the October 2019 evening sky. That’s because Venus sits close to the afterglow of sunset all month, leaving dazzling Jupiter to light up the evening sky. Jupiter pops out at dusk – brighter than any star – and stays out until mid-evening at mid-northern latitudes or until late evening at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Not sure which one is Jupiter? See the moon in Jupiter’s vicinity for several days, centered on or near October 3 and then again on or near Halloween.
Need more confirmation? Find a bright object you think is Jupiter, steady your binoculars – maybe sit down and anchor them on your knees, or prop your elbows on a fence railing – and aim them at that very bright light. If it is Jupiter, at least one or more of its four largest moons should pop into view.
At mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, Jupiter appears in the southwest sky at dusk. In early October, Jupiter sets around 9 p.m. (10 p.m. daylight saving time). By the month’s end, Jupiter sets nearly two hours earlier, around 7 p.m. (8 p.m. daylight saving time).
At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the king planet stays out till nearly midnight in early October, and then by late October, sets nearly two hours earlier, as well, around 10 p.m.
Try Stellarium Online for the view from your location.
That bright, fiercely twinkling red star – close to Jupiter on our sky’s dome this year – is Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion in the constellation Scorpius. In 2019, sky watchers have been watching Jupiter “wander” east and west relative to this zodiac star. In the first three months of 2019, Jupiter was traveling eastward, away from Antares. Starting on April 10, 2019, Jupiter reversed course, and began moving toward Antares. For four months (April 10 to August 11, 2019), Jupiter traveled in retrograde (or westward), closing the gap between itself and this star. Jupiter is now moving eastward again, away from Antares.
Look for the moon to pair up with Saturn on or near October 5, 2019. Read more.
Saturn. After you find Jupiter at dusk and nightfall, use this brilliant beauty of a planet to find another bright evening planet, Saturn. Saturn is not as bright as Jupiter, but the ringed planet shines on par with the sky’s brightest stars. Hold your fist at arm’s length. Saturn is nearly three fist-widths to the east of Jupiter. Because Saturn is the only bright-looking “star” to occupy this part of the sky, you’re not likely to mistake a bright star for Saturn.
Read more: When Jupiter and Saturn meet
Saturn – a golden world to the eye alone – pops out at nightfall and stays out until late evening. This planet still shines as brightly as a 1st-magnitude star, in other words, as brightly as our sky’s brightest stars.
Viewing Saturn’s rings soon? Read me 1st
At mid-northern latitudes, Saturn transits – reaches its highest point for the day – around sunset. In early October, Saturn sets around one hour before midnight (12 a.m. daylight saving time). Near the month’s end, Saturn plunges below the horizon around 9 p.m. (10 p.m. daylight saving time).
At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, in early October, Saturn transits – climbs highest up – around sunset, and sets about one and one-half hours after the midnight hour. By late October, Saturn sinks below the horizon about one-half hour before midnight.
You won’t mistake Jupiter for Saturn. Jupiter is significantly the brighter pf these two worlds. Jupiter ranks the fourth-brightest celestial object after the sun, moon and Venus, respectively, and the king planet outshines Saturn by about 10 times. What’s more, at nightfall and early evening in October 2019, Jupiter shines well to the west of Saturn.
Watch for the first quarter moon to join up with Saturn on October 5, as shown on the sky chart above.
The steep tilt of the ecliptic gives the Southern Hemisphere the great big advantage for catching Mercury and Venus after sunset. .
Mercury and Venus are both evening planets – at least nominally – all through October 2019, but both hover too close to the afterglow of sunset to be easily viewed with the unaided eye at mid-northern latitudes. From the Southern Hemisphere, or the northern tropics, you have a much better chance of catching both Mercury and Venus with the eye alone as dusk gives way to darkness throughout October 2019.
Note that Venus – the brightest planet – is far brighter than Mercury. Nonetheless, Mercury shines as brilliantly as a 1st-magnitude star all month long, though it dims somewhat throughout the month. Look for Mercury and Venus way below Jupiter and rather close to the horizon as dusk deepens into nightfall.
Depending on where you live worldwide, the planets Mercury and Venus will be in conjunction on October 29 or 30, 2019. On either date, however, look for these two worlds to occupy a single binocular field of view. What’s more, the moon will be nearby these worlds in late October, so think photo opportunity! The sky chart below and the accompanying link provide more information.
The young moon swings in the vicinity of the planets Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in late October 2019. The above chart is for North American mid-northern latitudes. Click here for more information plus a Southern Hemisphere sky chart.
By the way, at Mercury’s most recent inferior conjunction on July 21, 2019, Mercury swung to the south of the sun’s disk as seen from Earth. But when Mercury reaches its next inferior conjunction on November 11, 2019, the innermost planet will swing directly in front of the sun, to stage a transit of Mercury. Transits of Mercury happen more frequently than transits of Venus; they happen 13 or 14 times per century. The last transit of Mercury happened on May 9, 2016, and – after the one on this upcoming November 11 – the next Mercury transit won’t be until November 13, 2032.
You might not see Mars until late October 2019. The waning crescent moon will point to Mars on October 23, 24 and 25. On October 26, look for the moon to swing close to Mars on the sky’s dome. Read more.
Where is Mars? Note that the above sky chart is for late October! That’s because late October might be your first decent chance to catch this world before sunrise. Mars swung on the far side of the sun at superior conjunction on September 2, 2019, to transition from the evening to morning sky. Hiding in the glare of sunrise, Mars probably won’t become visible in the morning sky until late October or November 2019. Mars will be more easily viewed from the Northern Hemisphere and southern tropics than at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere.
What do we mean by bright planet? By bright planet, we mean any solar system planet that is easily visible without an optical aid and that has been watched by our ancestors since time immemorial. In their outward order from the sun, the five bright planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These planets actually do appear bright in our sky. They are typically as bright as – or brighter than – the brightest stars. Plus, these relatively nearby worlds tend to shine with a steadier light than the distant, twinkling stars. You can spot them, and come to know them as faithful friends, if you try.
Skywatcher, by Predrag Agatonovic.
Bottom line: In October 2019, two planets – Jupiter and Saturn – are easy to see throughout the month. They both come out at nightfall and are out until well after nightfall. Mercury and Venus are pretty much sitting in the afterglow of sunset, whereas Mars is hiding in the glare of sunrise. Click here for recommended almanacs; they can help you know when the planets rise and set in your sky.
Don’t miss anything. Subscribe to EarthSky News by email
Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze, and recommend a place we can all enjoy.
Help EarthSky keep going! Donate now.
Post your planet photos at EarthSky Community Photos
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/1YD00CF
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