The Night Sky in October 2025

For more details please consult – Astronomy – Sun – Moon – Eclipses (timeanddate.com) and In-The-Sky.org

Note – all times in BST

The Moon:  Full Moon   7th October at 0447     Last Quarter   13th October at 1912

                    New Moon  21st October at 1325   First Quarter   29th October at 1620

The Planets           on 15th October 2025

            Sun   Mercury   Venus   Moon   Mars  Jupiter   Saturn   Uranus   Neptune

Rise:    0728    0937      0528     0006    0948   2300     1732       1922       1730

Set:     1808    1831      1743     1622    1849   1520      0500       1122       0523

In summary         

Mercury is too close to the Sun to see this month. Venus is a morning object visible in the east before dawn. Mars will be too close to the Sun to see this month. Jupiter is a morning object visible from 0100 to 0530. Saturn is close to opposition and will be visible from 2100 until 0330. Uranus is close to opposition and will be visible from 2100 until 0530. Neptune is close to opposition and will be visible from 1930 until 0400.

The Stars at 9pm BST

North – Cepheus and Draco are almost overhead. The two Bears are nicely placed with Camelopardalis low down along with Perseus. Auriga is just starting to rise.

East –  Cygnus is overhead next to Cepheus. The Constellations of the Milky Way are nicely presented in this view tonight. Andromeda and Pegasus are well placed for viewing. Aquarius – with Saturn – and Pisces – with Neptune – are low down

South – Cygnus is overhead with Lyra, Sagitta and Aquila nicely placed. Sagittarius is close to the southern horizon. Plus the many objects and star clods of the Milky Way.

West – Lyra, Draco and Hercules are high up. Ophiuchus and Corona Borealis [ NB keep a watch on T Crb! – could flare any time now].

Meteor Showers  

The Dragonids shower will peak on 8th October 2025 originating from the constellation Draco which can be found above the Big Dipper and above and to the left of the Little Dipper. However visibility will be difficult due to the Harvest full moon

Bright Comet:

Comet C2025/A6 Lemmon traverses the stars between the feet of the Great Bear and Leo Minor during early October [6th magnitude – Binoculars] . By mid October [at 3rd Magnitude – visual] is passing through the Hunting Dogs [Canes Venatici] and by the 21st [2nd magnitude] it will pass close to Arcturus in Bootes. It will be at its brightest on/about 1st November when the Comet’s head may be below the horizon but its – long tail – may be visible to northern hemisphere observers. Thereafter is heads into the southern skies [fading all the time] and will not be visible from the UK. Refer to the finder chart on the next page.

For further news on upcoming bright Comets please browse with website ….. https://in-the-sky.org/data/comets.php

Other phenomena to look out for

With Summer almost over darker skies are approaching so its time to dust of the telescope covers, check your equipment out and get outside – there may be a clear sky at some stage this autumn.

There is still lots of solar activity at the moment, the current cycle is much stronger than expected – sunspots and more – so if you have a Solar Filter check out the daily changes to Sunspots. There are also regular Aurora Alerts so be on the look out for the night sky turning green, crimson or purple.

Night Sky View –

Path of Comet LEMMON during October and November