Southern Skywatch October 2020 edition is now out!

Whole sky at 19:46 ACST  (90 minutes after sunset), on Saturday, October 3 as seen from Adelaide.

Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Mercury Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.  The Moon is just below Mars. The insets show the telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn at the same magnification at this time.  

 Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). click to embiggen.

 The October edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.

Over October Variable star Mira fades. For the first two weeks of October four bright planets can be seen just after astronomical twilight,Mercury Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. October 2; Waning Moon near to Mars.. October 3; Venus and bright Star Regulus almost on top of each other. October 4; Moon at Apogee and daylight savings starts. October 14; crescent Moon close to Venus. October 14; Mars at Opposition. October 17; Moon at perigee. October 18; the crescent Moon near Mercury. Morning October 22; Orionid meteor shower peaks. October 22; The waning Moon, Jupiter and Saturn form a line in the evening sky. October 23; Jupiter, Saturn and waning Moon form a line in the evening sky. October 31; Moon at Apogee (Blue Moon WA).

 
Mercury early October is an excellent time to see Mercury in the evening.After mid month Mercury rapidly sinks towards the horizon.

Venus is in Leo and is spectacularly close to the bright star Regulus on the 3rd. Venus is close to the crescent Moon on the 14th.

Mars is close to the Moon on the 3rd and is at opposition on the 14th.

Jupiter is prominent in  the evening sky and comes closer to Saturn over the Month. On the 22nd Jupiter, the Moon and Saturn form a line in the evening sky. On the 23rd the lineup is Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon.

Saturn  is alos prominent in  the evening sky near Jupiter. On the 22nd Jupiter, the Moon and Saturn form a line in the evening sky. On the 23rd the lineup is Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon.

October 4; Moon at Apogee and daylight savings starts. October 17; Moon at perigee. October 31; Moon at Apogee