Night Sky Tonight: What to See This Week

~2 min
Topics:Skywatching
Night Sky Tonight: What to See This Week
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Looking for what to see in the sky this week? This guide highlights the upcoming astronomical events. Scroll down for sky maps and viewing tips, and use the Sky Tonight app to check when and where each object will appear in your sky.

Contents

Sky Events Tonight: October 12

  • Main astronomy event tonight: Moon near Venus; Moon near Mercury; Mercury at greatest eastern elongation.
  • Planets visible tonight: Evening — Saturn and Neptune; late evening to dawn — Uranus; before dawn — Mars and Jupiter. Mercury and Venus are visible after sunset mainly from the Southern Hemisphere. Details: Planets Visible Tonight
  • Constellations visible tonight: Northern Hemisphere — Aquarius, Pegasus, Cepheus, Lacerta, Piscis Austrinus, and, from lower northern latitudes, Grus; Southern Hemisphere — Aquarius, Piscis Austrinus, Grus, and Octans. Details: Constellations in October 2026

Upcoming Astronomical Events: October 12-18, 2026

DateEventBest timeEquipment
October 12Moon near VenusAfter sunsetNaked eye
October 12Moon near MercuryAfter sunsetNaked eye/binoculars
October 12Mercury at greatest eastern elongationAfter sunsetNaked eye/binoculars
October 13–14Southern Taurids early peakLate evening/nightNaked eye
October 14Moon near AntaresAfter sunsetNaked eye/binoculars
October 14Lunar occultation of Antares18:54–23:12 GMT (global time)Binoculars/telescope
October 18Epsilon Geminids peakLate night/before dawnNaked eye

Below, you’ll find sky events arranged by date, with quick viewing tips to help you choose the best nights for stargazing. All dates are listed in GMT, so the exact calendar date may differ in your local time zone; however, the times shown on the sky maps are given in local time.

October 12: Venus near the Moon; Mercury near the Moon

Night Sky on October 12, 2026: Moon near Venus
After sunset, look low above the western horizon for brilliant Venus beside an extremely thin crescent Moon. Mercury will shine nearby too, so the three objects will make a beautiful little grouping in the evening twilight. Venus will be the easiest to spot, while the young Moon and Mercury may take a little more effort against the bright sky.
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Night Sky on October 12, 2026: Moon near Mercury at Greatest Elongation
The young crescent Moon will also pass close to Mercury, just as the elusive planet reaches its greatest eastern elongation — one of the best times to look for it in the evening sky. The Moon and Mercury will appear only about 2° apart, low above the western horizon after sunset; from southern latitudes, bright Venus will add a star-like beacon nearby. A clear, unobstructed horizon will make all the difference.
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October 13–14: Southern Taurids meteor shower early peak

Night Sky on October 13, 2026: Southern Taurids Meteor Shower
The Southern Taurids reach an early peak on October 13–14, giving skywatchers a first good chance to catch their slow, bright meteors this season. This isn’t the shower’s main peak — that comes in early November — but the October maximum can still produce noticeable streaks and occasional fireballs. The radiant in Taurus climbs highest around 2–3 a.m. local time, and the shower is visible from both hemispheres. No equipment is needed.
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October 14: Antares near the Moon

Night Sky on October 14, 2026: Moon near Antares
After sunset, look low in the western sky for a thin crescent Moon shining very close to Antares, the bright red heart of Scorpius. At their closest, the pair will be separated by less than half a degree, making them look especially striking together; the best views will come from the Southern Hemisphere. Both are easy to see with the naked eye, and binoculars may also reveal the globular cluster M4 near Antares.
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Night Sky on October 14, 2026: Moon Occults Antares
From a narrow part of the South Atlantic region, the Moon will pass directly in front of Antares and briefly hide the star from view. The occultation will be visible from eastern Uruguay, southern Brazil, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. With binoculars or a telescope, you can watch Antares suddenly disappear behind the lunar edge and reappear a little later.
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October 18: Epsilon Geminid meteor shower peak

Night Sky on October 18, 2026: Epsilon Geminid Meteor Shower
The Epsilon Geminids peak on October 18, bringing a small but welcome trickle of meteors to the October sky. Under ideal dark skies with the radiant high overhead, the peak rate is about three meteors per hour; actual counts are usually lower. Conditions improve later in the night, after the First Quarter Moon sets and the radiant in Gemini climbs higher. From the Northern Hemisphere, start watching around midnight; from the Southern Hemisphere, the best chances come closer to dawn. No equipment is needed.
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Night Sky Tonight: Bottom Line

There is almost always something worth seeing in the night sky. Use this guide to choose the best events for tonight and the coming days, but remember that visibility depends on your location, local time, weather, and light pollution. For the most accurate view, check the exact position of each object in the Sky Tonight app before you go outside.

Want to plan beyond the dates listed here? Check the full monthly calendar of astronomical events in October 2026.

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Topics:Skywatching
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