 | | Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com | Web Version | | | |  | What's Up This Week? This week begins with a half-lit moon sharing the sky with Jupiter before gliding into a series of graceful predawn pairings with Venus, Regulus and Earthshine. Midweek offers prime viewing for the Andromeda Galaxy, while early risers can chase the faint zodiac light glowing before sunrise. It's a busy sky above, but that's not all! Read on to find out about the viewing prospects for Comet Lemmon this month, a brightening visitor that could soon be visible to the naked eye and a new astrophoto from one of our readers showing a cosmic baboon rampaging through deep space! Here's what to watch for this week. Clear skies,
Daisy
Reference Editor, Space.com | |  | | (Starry Night) | The moon reaches its third quarter phase at 2:13 p.m. EDT (1813 GMT) and rises around midnight, appearing half-illuminated on its western side. Look for bright Jupiter shining close to its right, close enough to share a binocular view for observers in eastern North America. The days ahead bring darker skies, ideal for spotting faint deep-sky objects and Orionid meteors! | |  | | (Starry Night) | The Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest large galactic neighbor, climbs high in the eastern evening sky. Under dark skies, it appears as a faint smudge 1.4 fist diameters left of Alpheratz in the Great Square of Pegasus. Binoculars reveal its glowing disk, and telescopes show its two companions, M32 and M110. | |  | | (Starry Night) | Look east before dawn to see the crescent moon above Leo's bright star Regulus. Brilliant Jupiter gleams higher up, while Venus rises around 5:30 a.m. local time, completing a beautiful vertical alignment before sunrise. | |  | | (Starry Night) | The waning crescent moon glows above Venus in the early morning twilight. Watch for Earthshine, the soft glow lighting the moon's dark side, sunlight reflected from Earth and back again. This subtle light is visible for several days before and after each new moon. | |  | | (Starry Night) | In Perseus, the variable star Algol dims and brightens in a repeating 10-hour cycle. On Saturday evening, it reaches minimum brightness at 6:19 p.m. EDT (2219 GMT), matching nearby Rho Persei, then brightens again by 11:19 p.m. EDT (0319 GMT). Compare it with the star Almach above to see the change. | |  | | (Starry Night) | Before dawn, look east for a faint, triangular glow rising from the horizon, the zodiacal light. Caused by sunlight reflecting off dust in the inner solar system, it appears brightest in dark, rural skies. The glow extends upward through Leo, centered around Regulus. | |  | | (Starry Night) | The old crescent moon will rise low in the east just before dawn, glowing softly beside brilliant Venus. The pairing makes for a beautiful photo opportunity, especially with a silhouette or horizon feature in the foreground. | | | | Moon Calendar The third quarter moon on Oct. 13 marks the halfway point between full and new. Rising around midnight and setting around noon, it appears half-lit on its western side. This phase is perfect for observing the moon's craters and mountains along the terminator, where long shadows highlight the rugged terrain. The nights following this phase also bring the darkest skies of the month — ideal for spotting galaxies, star clusters, and the elusive zodiacal light. Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase. | | | | Meteor Shower Alert! | Learn when, where, and how to see the Orionid meteor shower, peaking in late October this year. | | | | In The News | This newly discovered comet could soon glow bright enough for the naked eye as it sweeps through October's morning and evening skies. | | | | Solar Eclipse | A total solar eclipse will sweep across Australia and New Zealand on July 22, 2028, bringing over five minutes of midday darkness. | | | | Northern Lights Forecast | The latest aurora forecast for tonight help you make sure you're in the right place at the right time to see the northern lights. | | | | Your Amazing Astrophotos | We're not the only ones who see a baboon in this nebula photo, right? | | | | Astronomy Kit and Accessories | These are the best small telescopes you can buy in every category. | | | Smart binoculars are a new technology, but are they worth getting in on? We've rounded up the best. | | | | Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. | |  | |  | Follow Night Sky This Week |  |  |  |  | | | | | Future US LLC © | | Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036. | | | | |
