What’s up in the night sky: October 2024

Welcome to our night sky monthly feature where we focus on easy and fun things to see in the night sky, mostly with just your eyes. This month: A bright comet (maybe), a bunch of planets, and an annular solar eclipse.

All month: Yellowish Saturn is up in the evening east and visible through most of the night until it sets in the west before dawn.  

All month: Reddish Mars rises in the east in the middle of the night and is high up by dawn. Watch it brighten considerably over the coming months as Earth and Mars grow closer in their orbits. Mars and Jupiter are in a region of the sky with several of the brightest stars and most recognizable constellations, including Orion, Gemini, and Taurus.

All month: Very bright Jupiter starts October above Mars in the predawn east. They grow farther apart as the days pass. 

All month: Super bright Venus is close to the horizon in the west shortly after sunset. It sets soon thereafter, so may be hard to see despite its brightness.

Mid-month: We may have a very bright comet that will amaze us. Or, a less spectacular comet, but that you can see with just your eyes. Or, a total non-spectacle. Comets are notoriously hard to predict. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas) has been getting a lot of hype, but as always, we’ll see. Here’s hoping it survives and thrives after its closest approach to the Sun. The sweet spot for viewing is approximately Oct. 10-12, but you'll need a clear view to the western horizon.

Late month: There may be a different bright comet, but it is too early to tell.

Oct. 2: An annular solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Argentina and Chile, and a partial solar eclipse will be visible from much of South America.

Oct. 2: New Moon

Oct. 5: A crescent Moon near Venus.

Oct. 10-12: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas) is predicted to be at its brightest.

Oct. 13/14: The Moon is very near Saturn.

Oct. 17: Full Moon

Oct. 20/21: The Moon is near Jupiter.

Oct. 22/23: The Moon is near Mars.