October Astronomical Events: What to See in the Night Sky This Month

In 2026, October celestial events include Saturn at opposition, a lunar occultation of Jupiter, the Orionid meteor shower, a Full Hunter’s Moon, and several beautiful alignments with the Moon. Want to know which October sky events are visible from your exact location? Open the Sky Tonight app to get local visibility times and viewing details tailored to you!

Contents

• Best Astronomical Events in October 2026
• October Celestial Events Calendar
• Moon Events in October 2026
  • October 6: Lunar Occultation of Jupiter
  • October 26: Full Hunter’s Moon
  • Moon Phases in October 2026
• Planets in October 2026
  • Planets in October 2026: visibility from the Northern Hemisphere
  • Planets in October 2026: visibility from the Southern Hemisphere
  • October 4: Saturn at Opposition
• Astronomical Events in October 2026: Stars and Constellations
  • Best October Constellations in the Northern Hemisphere
  • Best October Constellations in the Southern Hemisphere
  • October 25: Moon forms a triangle with Saturn and Algenib
• Astronomical Events in October 2026: Meteor Showers
  • October 8–9: Draconids
  • October 21–22: Orionids
  • Other meteor showers in October 2026
• Deep-Sky Objects in October 2026
• Comets in October 2026
• Other Important Astronomy-Themed Dates in October 2026
  • October 4–10: World Space Week
  • October 11–17: Earth Science Week
  • October 18: 63 years since Félicette became the first cat in space
  • October 22: 51 years since Venera 9 landed on Venus
  • October 24: 80 years since the first photo of Earth from space
  • October 31: Dark Matter Day
• Astronomical Events in October 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the best astronomical event in October 2026?
  • When is the Full Moon in October 2026?
  • What planets are visible in October 2026?
  • Are there any meteor showers in October 2026?
  • When is the darkest sky in October 2026?
• October Sky Events in 2026: Final Thoughts

Best Astronomical Events in October 2026

• October 4 — Saturn at opposition: This is the best time of the year to see Saturn: the planet will be at its brightest, visible all night, and perfectly placed for telescope views of its famous rings. No wonder it made our list of the best astronomical events of 2026.

• October 6 — lunar occultation of Jupiter: The Moon will pass right in front of bright Jupiter, making the planet disappear and then reappear about an hour later. It’s the second in a series of eight Jupiter occultations — and unlike the September event, this one will be visible under a dark pre-dawn sky from populated parts of North America, making it much easier to observe.

• October 21–22 — Orionids peak: One of October’s best meteor showers can produce around 20 meteors per hour, including fast, bright meteors with glowing trails. The Moon will interfere this year, so the best show comes in the pre-dawn hours after it gets lower in the sky.

• October 25 — Moon, Saturn, and Algenib: The nearly Full Moon, Saturn, and Algenib will form a neat equilateral triangle in the sky. Algenib is one of the stars of Pegasus — one of the best constellations to look for this month — so the whole scene will be especially easy to spot.

• October 26 — Full Hunter’s Moon: October’s Full Moon is the Hunter’s Moon, the traditional name for the Full Moon that follows the Harvest Moon. Watch it around moonrise: close to the horizon, the Moon often looks especially large and takes on a warm orange tint.

October Celestial Events Calendar

Here are the main astronomical events of October 2026. Dates are given in GMT, so some events may fall on a different date in your time zone. For the exact time and visibility from your location, check the Sky Tonight app.

The Visibility column shows how easy each event is to observe:

• 🟢 Good — easy to spot with the naked eye under normal conditions
• 🟡 Moderate — visible, but may require some experience or optical aid
• 🔴 Poor — difficult to observe because of poor viewing conditions
• ⚫ Not visible — the event can’t be observed visually

Click the linked events to open separate guides with more details.

Date	Event	Visibility
October 1	Daytime Sextantids meteor shower peak (5 meteors per hour)	🔴 Poor
October 1	Moon near Uranus	🟡 Moderate
October 1	Moon near Aldebaran	🟢 Good
October 2–3	Moon, Aldebaran, and Betelgeuse form a nearly equilateral triangle	🟢 Good
October 3	Venus turns retrograde	⚫ Not visible¹
October 4	Saturn at opposition	🟢 Good
October 4	Moon near Pollux	🟢 Good
October 4–7	Moon passes along the line of Mars, Jupiter, and Regulus	🟢 Good
October 5	Mars near the Moon	🟢 Good
October 5	Moon near the Beehive Cluster	🟡 Moderate
October 5	Venus near Mercury	🔴 Poor
October 5–6	October Camelopardalids peak (5 meteors per hour)	🟢 Good
October 6	Lunar occultation of Jupiter	🟢 Good
October 6	Asteroid Pallas at opposition	🟡 Moderate
October 7	Moon near Regulus	🟢 Good
October 8–9	Draconids meteor shower peak (5 meteors per hour)	🟢 Good
October 10	New Moon	⚫ Not visible
October 11	Delta Aurigids peak (2 meteors per hour)	🟢 Good
October 11	Moon near Spica	⚫ Not visible
October 12	Moon near Venus	🔴 Poor
October 12	Mercury at greatest eastern elongation	🟡 Moderate
October 12	Moon near Mercury	🔴 Poor
October 13	Southern Taurids early peak (about 5 meteors per hour)	🟢 Good
October 13	Asteroid Vesta at opposition	🟡 Moderate
October 14	Moon near Antares	🟢 Good
October 18	Epsilon Geminids peak (3 meteors per hour)	🟡 Moderate
October 19	Moon near Pluto	🔴 Poor
October 21	Orionids meteor shower peak (20 meteors per hour)	🟡 Moderate
October 24	Leonis Minorids peak (2 meteors per hour)	🔴 Poor
October 24	Moon near Neptune	🔴 Poor
October 24	Venus at inferior solar conjunction	⚫ Not visible
October 24	Mercury turns retrograde	⚫ Not visible¹
October 24	Moon near Saturn	🟢 Good
October 25	Moon, Saturn, and Algenib form a nearly equilateral triangle	🟢 Good
October 26	Full Hunter’s Moon	🟢 Good
October 26–27	Mars, the Beehive Cluster, and Jupiter form a line	🟢 Good
October 28	Moon near the Pleiades	🟡 Moderate
October 28	Moon near Uranus	🟡 Moderate
October 28	Moon near Aldebaran	🟢 Good
October 29–30	Moon, Aldebaran, and Betelgeuse form an isosceles triangle	🟢 Good
October 31	Moon near Pollux	🟢 Good

¹For retrograde motion, “Not visible” refers to the event itself: even if the planet itself is visible, retrograde motion can’t be noticed at a glance — you need to track its position over several nights to see the change.

Want to know what’s visible tonight or plan your stargazing week? Check our weekly night sky guide for the best stargazing events happening right now.

Moon Events in October 2026

The Moon has plenty going on this October: it will hide Jupiter, pass close to several bright planets and stars, and finish the month with the Full Hunter’s Moon. Here are the lunar events worth watching.

October 6: Lunar Occultation of Jupiter

On October 6, the Moon will pass directly in front of Jupiter, making the bright planet disappear behind the lunar disk and then reappear later. This will be the second in a series of eight lunar occultations of Jupiter running from September 2026 to May 2027.

And this time, the view is much better for many observers. Unlike the September occultation, which was largely a daytime event, the October one will be visible under a dark pre-dawn sky across populated parts of North America. The occultation path also crosses Africa, but there the event will take place in daylight.

If the occultation itself isn’t visible from your location, there’s still something to see: the Moon and Jupiter will make an extremely close approach, with the brilliant planet appearing right next to the lunar crescent.

Details: Bright Dots Near the Moon

October 26: Full Hunter’s Moon

The Full Moon will occur on October 26 at 04:12 GMT. The Moon will begin the day in Pisces, then move into Aries, where it will remain for the rest of October 26. It will look full for about three days, so you can start watching from October 25.

This Full Moon is traditionally called the Hunter’s Moon. The name doesn’t belong to October specifically — it is given to the Full Moon that comes right after the Harvest Moon. In the past, after the fields had been harvested, hunters could more easily spot animals in the open fields, while the bright Moon helped them continue hunting after sunset.

Other traditional names for the October Full Moon include the Freezing Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, and Dying Grass Moon — a very autumnal set of names.

In the Southern Hemisphere, where October falls in spring, the seasonal associations are quite different. Names include the Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Pink Moon, and Waking Moon.

Details: Full Moon in October 2026

Moon Phases in October 2026

• Last Quarter: October 3, 13:25 GMT
• New Moon: October 10, 15:50 GMT
• First Quarter: October 18, 16:12 GMT
• Full Moon: October 26, 04:12 GMT

Date	Moon phase	Moon visibility
Oct 3	Last Quarter	Best seen in the morning. Through a telescope, you can observe details of the lunar surface along the terminator — the line between light and shadow.
Oct 10	New Moon	The Moon won’t be visible, making this a great night for stargazing.
Oct 18	First Quarter	Best seen in the evening.
Oct 26	Full Moon	The Moon rises around sunset and remains visible until dawn.

To check the exact moonrise and moonset times for your location on any date and plan your observations, use our dedicated lunar calendar.

Planets in October 2026

October offers good views of several planets, with Saturn reaching opposition, Jupiter and Mars shining in the morning sky, and Mercury getting its best evening visibility around greatest elongation. Observing conditions vary a lot between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, especially for Mercury and Venus.

Learn more: Planets Visible Tonight

Planets in October 2026: visibility from the Northern Hemisphere

Planet	Best seen with	When to see	Oct 1–10	Oct 11–20	Oct 21–31
Mercury	Naked eye	Evening	🔴 Poor	🔴 Poor	⚫ Not visible
Venus	Naked eye	Evening	🔴 Poor	⚫ Not visible	⚫ Not visible
Mars	Naked eye	Morning	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🟢 Good
Jupiter	Naked eye	Morning	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🟢 Good
Saturn	Naked eye	Evening/night	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🟢 Good
Uranus	Binoculars or telescope	Late night/morning	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate
Neptune	Telescope	Evening/night	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate

• Mercury (Virgo, Libra; mag from -0.1 to 2.6): Mercury stays low in the evening sky throughout October, so it is a tricky target from northern latitudes. The best chance comes around October 12, when the planet reaches its greatest eastern elongation, 25° from the Sun. The thin crescent Moon will be nearby the same day. Earlier, on October 5, Mercury passes Venus, while on October 24 it turns retrograde and quickly disappears into the Sun’s glare.

• Venus (Virgo; mag from about -4.8 to -4.1): Venus begins October as an extremely bright but very low evening object. It sinks toward the Sun rapidly and becomes increasingly difficult to see as the month goes on. On October 3, Venus turns retrograde; on October 5, it passes Mercury; and on October 12, the thin Moon appears nearby. On October 24, Venus reaches inferior conjunction and passes between Earth and the Sun, disappearing from the evening sky. It will return as a morning object in November.

• Mars (Cancer, Leo; mag from 1.1 to 0.9): Mars is easy to see in the morning and slowly brightens during October. On October 5, the waning Moon passes very close to Mars, with a lunar occultation visible from northern Canada. Around October 11, Mars passes through the Beehive Cluster (M44), making a great binocular view. On October 26–27, Mars, the Beehive Cluster, and Jupiter form a long, nearly straight line before sunrise. Mars moves from Cancer into Leo on October 30.

• Jupiter (Leo; mag from -1.9 to -2.0): Jupiter shines brightly in the morning sky and rises earlier as October progresses. The month’s main event comes on October 6, when the Moon occults Jupiter for observers in parts of the world. Elsewhere, the two objects will still appear extremely close together. On October 26–27, Jupiter joins Mars and the Beehive Cluster in a striking line visible before sunrise.

• Saturn (Cetus; mag from 0.3 to 0.5): Saturn is one of the easiest planets to observe this month. On October 4, it reaches opposition, rising around sunset, staying visible all night, and appearing at its brightest for the year. A telescope will reveal its rings, currently tilted only slightly toward Earth. On October 25, the nearly Full Moon joins Saturn in a neat equilateral triangle with a nearby bright star Algenib — a particularly eye-catching naked-eye scene.

• Uranus (Taurus; mag about 5.6): Uranus is visible for most of the night and becomes better placed as it approaches its November opposition. It is technically near the naked-eye limit under perfectly dark skies, but binoculars or a telescope will make finding it much easier. The Moon passes near Uranus on October 1 and again on October 28.

• Neptune (Pisces; mag about 7.7): Neptune is well placed in the evening and night sky after its late-September opposition. You’ll need a telescope to see it, and dark, moonless nights will give the best results. On October 24, the Moon passes near Neptune, although bright moonlight will make the distant planet especially difficult to spot.

Planets in October 2026: visibility from the Southern Hemisphere

Planet	Best seen with	When to see	Oct 1–10	Oct 11–20	Oct 21–31
Mercury	Naked eye	Evening	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🔴 Poor
Venus	Naked eye	Evening	🟢 Good	🟡 Moderate	⚫ Not visible
Mars	Naked eye	Morning	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🟢 Good
Jupiter	Naked eye	Morning	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🟢 Good
Saturn	Naked eye	Evening/night	🟢 Good	🟢 Good	🟢 Good
Uranus	Binoculars or telescope	Late night/morning	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate
Neptune	Telescope	Evening/night	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate	🟡 Moderate

• Mercury (Virgo, Libra; mag from about -0.1 to 2.6): October brings one of the best evening opportunities to see Mercury from the Southern Hemisphere in 2026. Look for it above the western horizon after sunset. On October 12, Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, about 25° from the Sun. A thin crescent Moon will be nearby, while Venus can also be seen in the same part of the sky. After mid-month, Mercury fades and drops back toward the horizon, becoming difficult to see by late October.

• Venus (Virgo; mag from about -4.8 to -4.1): Venus begins October as a brilliant evening object above the western horizon. Southern observers get a much better view than those in the Northern Hemisphere, especially early in the month. On October 5–7, Venus appears near Mercury, and on October 12, the thin Moon joins them. Venus then sinks rapidly toward the Sun and reaches inferior conjunction on October 24, disappearing from the evening sky.

• Mars (Cancer, Leo; mag from 1.1 to 0.9): Mars is visible in the morning sky before sunrise and slowly brightens during October. On October 5, the waning Moon passes very close to Mars. Later in the month, Mars moves near the Beehive Cluster (M44), and on October 26–27, Mars, the cluster, and Jupiter form a long, nearly straight line in the morning sky. Mars enters Leo at the end of the month.

• Jupiter (Leo; mag from -1.9 to -2.0): Jupiter is a bright and easy morning target, rising earlier as October progresses. On October 6, the Moon passes directly in front of Jupiter for observers in some locations; elsewhere, the pair will still appear very close together. Near the end of the month, Jupiter joins Mars and the Beehive Cluster in a striking line before sunrise.

• Saturn (Cetus; mag from 0.3 to 0.5): Saturn is exceptionally well placed for Southern Hemisphere observers this month. On October 4, it reaches opposition, rising around sunset and remaining visible throughout the night. It is one of the best times of the year to observe the planet and its rings through a telescope. On October 25, the nearly Full Moon joins Saturn in a neat equilateral triangle with a nearby bright star Algenib.

• Uranus (Taurus; mag about 5.6): Uranus is visible for much of the night and continues improving as it heads toward opposition in November. Binoculars or a telescope are recommended. The Moon passes near Uranus on October 1 and again on October 28.

• Neptune (Pisces; mag about 7.7): Neptune remains well placed in the evening and night sky after its September opposition. You’ll need a telescope to see it. On October 24, the Moon passes nearby, though the bright moonlight will make Neptune harder to pick out.

October 4: Saturn at Opposition

On October 4 at 12:21 GMT, Saturn will reach opposition — the moment when the planet appears opposite the Sun in our sky. This is the best time of the year to observe Saturn: it will rise around sunset, stay visible all night, and reach its highest point around midnight.

At opposition, Saturn will shine at magnitude 0.3 in the constellation Cetus and will be easy to spot with the naked eye. It will also be at its closest to Earth in 2026, about 8.43 AU away.

A telescope makes the view even better: even a small instrument can show Saturn’s rings clearly separated from the planet’s disk. The rings are still relatively narrow in 2026 after their 2025 edge-on appearance, but they are gradually opening again. Under good conditions, you may also spot Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

Details: Planetary Oppositions 2026

Astronomical Events in October 2026: Stars and Constellations

October is a good month to explore several constellations that reach their highest point in the evening sky around this time of year. Some are large and easy to recognize, while others are faint and best seen away from city lights.

Details: October Constellations; October Stars and Asterisms

Best October Constellations in the Northern Hemisphere

• Pegasus is one of the easiest October constellations to recognize. Start with the huge Great Square of Pegasus, formed by Markab, Scheat, Algenib, and Alpheratz. From there, you can trace the rest of the Winged Horse toward its brightest star, Enif.

• Cepheus is easy to find in the northern sky between Polaris and the W-shaped Cassiopeia. Its five main stars form a simple house-like shape, and from many northern locations, the constellation stays above the horizon all night.

• Aquarius is much fainter, so dark skies help. Look south for its small Y-shaped Water Jar asterism; bright Fomalhaut below it can serve as a useful landmark.

• Piscis Austrinus lies low in the southern sky for northern observers. Its main pattern is faint, but its brightest star, Fomalhaut, is easy to spot and stands out in a relatively empty part of the autumn sky.

• Lacerta is the challenge target of the group. This small, faint constellation lies between Cygnus and Andromeda, and its stars form a little zigzag sometimes compared to a tiny version of Cassiopeia’s W.

Best October Constellations in the Southern Hemisphere

• Piscis Austrinus is especially well placed in October and climbs much higher than it does for northern observers. Start with bright Fomalhaut, then trace the faint outline of the Southern Fish around it.

• Grus is another great southern target. Find Fomalhaut first, then look farther south for Alnair and the long, narrow pattern of stars forming the Crane.

• Aquarius appears high in the sky from much of the Southern Hemisphere. Its stars are not especially bright, but the Water Jar asterism can help you identify it.

• Octans surrounds the south celestial pole. It has no bright, obvious pattern, so it is best seen under dark skies. Unlike the north, the southern sky has no bright pole star like Polaris — Sigma Octantis is much too faint to stand out.

• Pegasus is also visible from much of the Southern Hemisphere, although it appears lower toward the north. Look for its large Great Square, which may appear tilted compared with the view from northern latitudes.

October 25: Moon forms a triangle with Saturn and Algenib

On October 25, the nearly Full Moon will join Saturn and Algenib, a bright star in Pegasus, forming a striking triangle in the sky.

The triangle will be quite large: its sides will measure roughly 15°, or about one and a half fists at arm’s length. You won’t need binoculars or a telescope — all three objects are easy to see with the naked eye.

The shape will look especially close to equilateral triangle from New Zealand and parts of the South Pacific, where the three sides will be almost exactly the same length. From other locations, the triangle may look slightly stretched because the Moon’s apparent position shifts depending on where you observe from.

Astronomical Events in October 2026: Meteor Showers

October brings eight meteor shower peaks, but two of them stand out: the Draconids and the Orionids. The Draconids get excellent dark-sky conditions this year, while the more active Orionids will have to compete with a bright Moon.

Meteor shower	Peak	Meteors per hour	Visibility	Best seen from
Daytime Sextantids	October 1	5	🔴 Poor	Both hemispheres
October Camelopardalids	October 5–6	5	🟢 Good	Northern Hemisphere
Draconids	October 8–9	5	🟢 Good	Northern Hemisphere
Delta Aurigids	October 11	2	🟢 Good	Northern Hemisphere
Southern Taurids	October 13	5	🟢 Good	Both hemispheres
Epsilon Geminids	October 18	3	🟡 Moderate	Both hemispheres
Orionids	October 21–22	20	🟡 Moderate	Both hemispheres
Leonis Minorids	October 24	2	🔴 Poor	Northern Hemisphere

Details: October Meteor Showers.

October 8–9: Draconids

The Draconids peak on the night of October 8–9, producing around 5 meteors per hour. That may not sound like much, but the observing conditions are excellent: the Moon will be only about 3% illuminated, so even faint meteors should be easier to spot.

Unlike most meteor showers, the Draconids are best seen in the evening, not before dawn. They are mainly a Northern Hemisphere shower, with the radiant in Draco staying high in the northern sky.

October 21–22: Orionids

The Orionids are the main meteor shower of the month, reaching about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. They are visible from both hemispheres and are known for very fast meteors, bright fireballs, and glowing trails that can linger for several seconds.

The downside in 2026 is the Moon: it will be about 80% illuminated and will brighten the first half of the night. For the best view, wait until the pre-dawn hours, when the radiant is higher and the Moon is lower or already below the horizon.

Other meteor showers in October 2026

Several smaller meteor showers also peak this month:

• October 1 — Daytime Sextantids: about 5 meteors per hour; best shortly before sunrise.
• October 5–6 — October Camelopardalids: about 5 meteors per hour; good conditions in the Northern Hemisphere.
• October 11 — Delta Aurigids: about 2 meteors per hour; dark skies near the New Moon, but a very low meteor rate.
• October 13 — Southern Taurids: about 5 meteors per hour; visible from both hemispheres and known for bright, slow meteors.
• October 18 — Epsilon Geminids: about 3 meteors per hour; best later at night after the Moon sets.
• October 24 — Leonis Minorids: about 2 meteors per hour; poor conditions because of the nearly Full Moon.

Deep-Sky Objects in October 2026

In the Northern Hemisphere, look for M2 in Aquarius, the open clusters NGC 752, NGC 457, and NGC 663, and several nebulae in Perseus, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia, including the Little Dumbbell Nebula (M76), NGC 40, the California Nebula (NGC 1499), the Cave Nebula (Sh2-155), and the Ghost of Cassiopeia (IC 63). The clusters are good binocular targets, while most of the nebulae are better suited to a telescope or astrophotography.

Southern observers can turn to the galaxies NGC 300 and NGC 247, both well placed for telescope viewing, as well as the globular cluster NGC 288 in Sculptor. Under dark skies, NGC 300 can even be picked up with binoculars.

Details: Best Deep-Sky Objects in October

Comets in October 2026

One of the most promising comets to watch this October is 161P/Hartley–IRAS. On October 2, the comet will make its closest approach to Earth and should reach about magnitude 11.3, making early October the best time to look for it. A telescope will be required to observe the comet.

161P/Hartley–IRAS will be visible in the evening sky from both hemispheres, with better observing conditions in the Southern Hemisphere during this part of its apparition. After its close approach to Earth, the comet will gradually fade.

Details: Upcoming Comets.

Other Important Astronomy-Themed Dates in October 2026

October isn’t only about what’s happening in the sky. The month also brings several space and science celebrations — plus a few important anniversaries in the history of space exploration.

October 4–10: World Space Week

World Space Week is an annual international celebration of space science and technology. The dates themselves are symbolic: October 4 marks the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, while October 10 marks the entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967.

The theme for World Space Week 2026 is “Rocket Revolution,” focusing on how reusable rockets, commercial launch companies, and new space programs are changing access to space. Learn more about the history, meaning, and traditions of the celebration in our World Space Week guide.

October 11–17: Earth Science Week

Earth Science Week 2026 runs from October 11 to 17 under the theme “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society.” This year’s events focus on the minerals behind modern technologies and on how geoscience helps us find, use, and recycle these resources responsibly.

But did you know that valuable resources can be mined not only on Earth? Check out our space mining infographic to see what we could extract from asteroids, the Moon, and other worlds.

October 18: 63 years since Félicette became the first cat in space

On October 18, 1963, Félicette became the first and only cat to travel to space. The French mission reached an altitude of about 154 km, and Félicette returned safely to Earth after the short suborbital flight.

Want to know how Félicette was prepared for the mission — and what happened to her afterward? Read her full story in our article about Félicette, the first cat in space.

October 22: 51 years since Venera 9 landed on Venus

On October 22, 1975, the Soviet Venera 9 probe landed on Venus and sent back the first images ever taken from the surface of another planet. The lander survived the extreme heat and pressure for 53 minutes.

Since then, we’ve learned a lot more about Venus, but the planet still keeps plenty of secrets. Think you know it well? Test yourself with our Venus quiz.

October 24: 80 years since the first photo of Earth from space

On October 24, 1946, a camera aboard a modified V-2 rocket photographed Earth from an altitude of about 105 km. These became the first photographs of our planet taken from space — eight decades ago this year.

Space photography has come a long way since then. See how images of planets have changed in a century — from the earliest space photos to much more recent ones — in our planet pictures infographic.

October 31: Dark Matter Day

October 31 isn’t only Halloween — it’s also Dark Matter Day. And honestly, dark matter does sound suitably spooky: it’s invisible and mysterious. Scientists still don’t know exactly what dark matter is, but they can see its effects through gravity. Want a quick overview of what we know so far — and what makes up the rest of the Universe? Check out our article on what space is made of.

Astronomical Events in October 2026: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best astronomical event in October 2026?

One of the biggest highlights is Saturn at opposition on October 4. The planet will be at its brightest for the year, visible all night, and especially well placed for telescope observations.

Other major events include the lunar occultation of Jupiter on October 6, the Orionids peak on October 21–22, the Moon-Saturn-Algenib triangle on October 25, and the Full Hunter’s Moon on October 26.

When is the Full Moon in October 2026?

The Full Hunter’s Moon occurs on October 26 at 04:11 GMT. The Moon will be in the constellation Aries. It is called the Hunter’s Moon because it is the first Full Moon after the Harvest Moon.

What planets are visible in October 2026?

Mars and Jupiter are visible in the morning, while Saturn dominates the evening and nighttime sky. Mercury and Venus can be seen after sunset early in the month, especially from the Southern Hemisphere, but both become difficult to observe later in October. Uranus requires binoculars or a telescope, while Neptune is a telescope target.

Are there any meteor showers in October 2026?

Yes — eight meteor showers reach their peaks in October. The main ones are the Draconids, peaking around October 8–9, and the Orionids, peaking on October 21–22 with around 20 meteors per hour. The Draconids get much darker skies this year, while moonlight will interfere with the Orionids.

When is the darkest sky in October 2026?

The darkest nights fall around the New Moon on October 10. With little or no moonlight, this is the best part of the month for observing faint galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and meteor showers.

October Sky Events in 2026: Final Thoughts

October is one of those months when it’s worth checking the sky more often. Saturn is at its best, Jupiter gets hidden by the Moon, the Orionids return, and the month ends with a bright Full Hunter’s Moon.

There are plenty of smaller sights in between, too — close approaches, star patterns, constellations, and deep-sky targets that can easily turn an ordinary evening into a good stargazing night.

Use Sky Tonight to see what’s visible from your area, when to look, and where to find each object in the sky.