October Constellations And Stars: A Simple Guide
Look up this October! In the evening, seven constellations are at their best visibility: Piscis Austrinus, Grus, Pegasus, Aquarius, Cepheus, Lacerta, and Octans. This guide tells you exactly where to look from both hemispheres, how to find fainter constellations using bright markers like Fomalhaut and the Great Square of Pegasus. Each section provides clear directions and concise steps, making it easy for beginners to follow. To see the names of stars and constellations on your mobile phone’s screen, use the Star Walk 2 AR sky map.
Contents
- Introduction
- More to see in the October night sky
- Bottom line: Constellations best visible in October
Introduction
Welcome to our monthly series on the best constellations to observe! In October, the sky highlights include Aquarius, Pegasus, Cepheus, Grus, Lacerta, Octans, and Piscis Austrinus.
We have organized the 88 constellations by the month they are best visible — the month they cross the local meridian around 9 p.m., reaching their highest point in the sky.
Observation window: about 9–10 p.m. local time.
To easily navigate across the night sky and get AR sky maps, use the free Star Walk 2 app.
List of October constellations and their stars
Piscis Austrinus
- Brightness: ☆☆☆
- Visible from: 50°N to 90°S
- Brightest star: Fomalhaut (mag 1.2)
- Best deep-sky objects: NGC 7314 (galaxy, mag 10.5)
How to find Piscis Austrinus in the October night sky
In the Northern Hemisphere, look low above the southern horizon for bright Fomalhaut, the brightest star in the constellation. The rest of the constellation forms a small, faint outline south of Aquarius. In the Southern Hemisphere, Piscis Austrinus is located high in the sky (often in its northern part at culmination).
Viewing tip: Fomalhaut is a reliable naked-eye landmark in autumn (or spring in the southern latitudes). It stands out against the background of rather dim stars in this part of the sky. From northern latitudes, it stays low, so choose a place with an open horizon. Farther south, it climbs much higher and remains visible for a longer period.
Myth of the Piscis Austrinus constellation
The constellation Piscis Austrinus is represented by the fish. In the Greek sky lore, where the Piscis Austrinus was known as the Great Fish, it’s depicted as a fish drinking a stream of water poured by Aquarius. The bright star Fomalhaut marks the open mouth of the fish — this is what its name means in Arabic.
The two fish represented by the Pisces constellation were said to be the offspring of the Great Fish.
Grus
- Brightness: ☆☆☆
- Visible from: 35°N to 90°S
- Brightest star: Alnair (mag 1.7)
- Best deep-sky objects: NGC 7424 (galaxy, mag 11)
How to find Grus in the October night sky
Grus lies south of Piscis Austrinus: use bright Fomalhaut as your starting point, then look south and a bit to the west to a line of stars that forms the Crane’s long neck. The bright star Alnair (Alpha Gruis) marks the foot.
Northern Hemisphere: Grus sits low above the southern horizon, right below Piscis Austrinus with its bright star Fomalhaut. Choose a place with an unobstructed horizon for the best view.
Southern Hemisphere: Grus stands high in the evening sky and is easy to trace under dark viewing conditions.
Myth of the Grus constellation
There are no myths associated with the Grus constellation. It was introduced by 16th-century explorers and cartographers who mapped the far-southern sky, and later appeared in early star atlases. The name honors the crane, a symbol of grace, watchfulness, and long journeys in many cultures — fitting for a constellation discovered during long sea voyages.
Pegasus
- Brightness: ☆☆☆
- Visible from: 90°N to 60°S
- Brightest star: Enif (Epsilon Pegasi, mag 2.4)
- Best deep-sky objects: Great Pegasus Cluster (M15, mag 6.2), Stephan’s Quintet (galaxy group, combined mag 13)
How to find Pegasus in the October night sky
Pegasus is easy to spot by the Great Square asterism — four stars forming a large diamond in the evening sky. The corners are Markab, Scheat, Algenib, and Alpheratz (the last belongs to Andromeda but completes the Square). To the west of the Square, the brightest star of the constellation Enif (Epsilon Pegasi) marks the horse’s muzzle; a short line of stars links Enif back toward the Square as the neck.
In the Northern Hemisphere, look high in the southeast after dusk. The Square stands prominently, with Enif a little to its right (west).
In the Southern Hemisphere, look northeast after dusk. The Square appears lower and tilted on a corner; Enif sits to the left (west) of it.
You can locate the Great Square by referencing other prominent stars in the sky. First, find Polaris — the brightest star in the northern direction. From it, draw a line to the east, until you land on an outer star on the W or M-shaped constellation Cassiopeia. From Cassiopeia, continue the line to arrive at the Great Square of Pegasus.
Myth of the Pegasus constellation
Pegasus is the winged horse of Greek mythology. He springs from the blood of Medusa when Perseus cuts off her head. Some versions add that the blood mixes with sea foam.
Many stories link Pegasus to Perseus and Andromeda. In one version, Perseus rides Pegasus to rescue Andromeda. In another, he flies with Hermes’ winged sandals instead.
Pegasus is best known as the mount of Bellerophon. With a golden bridle from Athena, Bellerophon tames the horse and defeats the Chimera. Later, he tries to fly to Olympus. Zeus sends a gadfly to sting Pegasus; the horse rears, Bellerophon falls, and Pegasus rises safely to the gods. There he carries Zeus’s thunderbolts and is placed among the stars as the constellation Pegasus.
Aquarius
- Brightness: ☆☆
- Visible from: 65°N to 90°S
- Brightest star: Sadalsuud (mag 2.9)
- Best deep-sky objects: Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009, mag 8), Helix Nebula (NGC 7293, mag 7.3)
How to find Aquarius in the October night sky
Aquarius is a faint constellation with only a few bright stars, so for observations, choose a night when the sky is dark. It lies between Capricornus and Pisces and belongs to the zodiac, so the Sun, Moon, and planets can pass through it.
In October 2025, the golden planet Saturn will help you to find Aquarius. Saturn was at opposition on September 21, 2025, and now shines near the Aquarius – Pisces border, bright in the evening sky through October.
From the Northern Hemisphere, face south and look for a faint, spread-out pattern. The small “Water Jar” asterism — four stars in a tight group — will help you lock on.
From the Southern Hemisphere, look high in the north. Use bright Fomalhaut (in Piscis Austrinus) as an anchor; Aquarius sits just north of it.
Myth of the Aquarius constellation
Aquarius is depicted as the Water-Bearer. In Greek myth, it represents Ganymede, a handsome Trojan shepherd. Zeus fell in love with the boy and carried him to Olympus — either in the form of an eagle or by sending his eagle, Aquila. Ganymede became the cupbearer of the gods, serving wine and nectar.
In many depictions of Aquarius, water pours from his jar. The stream is said to feed the Great Fish (Piscis Austrinus) and to signal the rainy season. To honor Ganymede, Zeus placed the Water-Bearer among the stars as Aquarius.
Cepheus
- Brightness: ☆☆
- Visible from: 90°N to 10°S
- Brightest star: Alderamin (mag 2.5)
- Best deep-sky objects: Iris Nebula (NGC 7023, mag 6.8)
How to find Cepheus in the October night sky
Cepheus sits between Cassiopeia and Polaris near the north celestial pole. Its five-sided pattern of stars resembles a child’s drawing of a house.
To find the constellation, start with the Big Dipper: draw a line from the two outermost stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper to find Polaris. From Polaris, slide your gaze toward the W-shaped (or M-shaped, if you’re in the southern latitudes) Cassiopeia. About halfway between them, a tidy “stick-house” of stars marks Cepheus.
In the Northern Hemisphere, from approximately 40°N and higher, Cepheus is circumpolar — it never sets and remains above the horizon throughout the night, all year. The constellation can be found above the northern horizon.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the constellation sits low and may be partly hidden by the horizon. In the southern latitudes farther from the equator, like Sydney, Australia, it’s not visible at all.
Myth of the Cepheus constellation
The constellation Cepheus is named after the mythical king of Ethiopia, husband of Cassiopeia, and father of Andromeda. After his death, it is said that Zeus placed him among the stars because he was descended from the nymph Io, one of Zeus’ favorites. The entire royal family, along with Pegasus and Perseus, appears in the autumn sky.
Lacerta
- Brightness: ☆
- Visible from: 90°N to 35°S
- Brightest star: Stellio (Alpha Lacertae, mag 3.8)
- Best deep-sky objects: NGC 7243 (open cluster, mag 6.4)
How to find Lacerta in the October night sky
Lacerta lies between Cygnus and Andromeda in a mostly dark patch of sky. Its stars are faint, forming a zigzag that many call the “little W” (the “big W” is Cassiopeia).
In the Northern Hemisphere, look high in the northeast.
From the Southern Hemisphere, look low in the north.
Brighter star patterns frame the area: the Great Square of Pegasus to the south, Cassiopeia’s W and Cepheus’s house to the north, and the Northern Cross of Cygnus to the west. Lacerta sits inside this box.
Myth of the Lacerta constellation
Lacerta was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in 1690. It has no associated myth, but its winding shape suggested a small lizard darting along the Milky Way’s edge.
Octans
- Brightness: ☆
- Visible from: 5°S to 90°S
- Brightest star: Nu (ν) Octantis (mag 3.7)
- Best deep-sky objects: NGC 7098 (mag 11.3)
How to find Octans in the October night sky
Octans wraps around the south celestial pole and is circumpolar for the Southern Hemisphere. Face due south on a dark night. The faint star Sigma Octantis (about mag 5.5) sits close to the exact pole, but it is too dim to serve as a southern “Polaris.” Use an astronomical app or chart to outline Octans’ subtle triangle.
There is no bright pole star in the south. Almost at the pole lies an extremely faint galaxy nicknamed Polarissima Australis (about mag 13.5) — a target only for large telescopes. The brightest star in Octans is Nu (ν) Octantis** at about mag 3.7, roughly 69 light-years away.
The constellation Octans isn’t visible from most of the Northern Hemisphere.
Myth of the Octans constellation
Octans is named for the octant, a navigator’s instrument. It honors the Age of Exploration rather than a myth. Its proximity to the pole made it useful for southern navigation — the south’s quiet counterpart to Polaris in the north.
More to see in the October night sky
In October 2025, the Moon puts on a steady show: Full Moon on October 7, Last Quarter on October 13, New Moon — your darkest skies — on October 21, and First Quarter on October 29. Find the exact time of lunar phases in the Moon Calendar on our website.
Around October 8–9, the Draconids favor the early evening, though the bright, just-past Full Moon will hide many faint meteors. The Orionids peak before dawn on October 21, perfectly timed with the New Moon for the best view.
Saturn remains a prime evening target after its September 21, 2025 opposition and stays bright through the month.
Bring binoculars if you can: two comets may be in reach — C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) in early October and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) later in the month. Forecasts put them near magnitude 9, but comets can surprise us. Check our updated comet guide so you don’t miss any outbursts!
Bottom line: Constellations best visible in October
October offers a mix of constellations: Aquarius along the zodiac, Pegasus with its Great Square, the northern king Cepheus, southern showpieces Grus and Piscis Austrinus, as well as fainter Lacerta and Octans. Pick a moonless evening around 9–10 p.m., and use these patterns to guide a simple tour across the autumn sky. Get the free Star Walk 2 app for easy navigation.
