Naked Eye Astronomy – October 2026

📝 Steven Burr


M33 Triangulum Galaxy - Steven Burr

The Moon

The last quarter moon arrives on the 3rd of October followed by a close passing of the moon and the M44 Beehive Cluster in the early morning hours of the 5th.  The new moon arrives on the 10th followed with an occultation of the moon and Antares just after sunset on the 14th.  On the 18th, we see the first quarter moon followed by the Full Hunter’s Moon on 26th of October.  In accordance with the Farmer’s Almanac, it is the time for hunting and the laying of provisions for the long months ahead.  Other names include, Drying Rice Moon (Dakota), Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon (Ojibwe), and Ice Moon (Haida).  In the early evening hours of the 27th, we find waning gibbous moon crossing the Pleiades star cluster.

The Planets

Venus is now becoming lost in the evening twilight.   Mars remains visible in the early morning hours prior to sunrise.  It can be found in the constellation of Cancer and will have a close encounter with M44 Beehive cluster on the 11th.  Jupiter becomes prominent in the pre-dawn skies.  Saturn remains well positioned for observing all night long.

Zodiacal Light

Starting around the 8th of the month, Zodiacal light will be visible for two weeks in the east just prior to the morning twilight.  It will appear to be a cone of light above the Eastern horizon originating from sunlight reflecting off dust grains that orbit the sun in the inner solar system. 

Draconids & Orionids Meteor Showers

This month we have two meteor showers to choose from, the Draconids and the Orionids.  The Draconids meteor shower peaks on the 8th/9th of October with up to 5 meteors per hour.  This meteor shower originates from dust debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner which takes 6.6 years to orbit the sun.  Look to the constellation of Draco to find where the meteors will radiate from.  Luckily, we have a waning crescent moon that doesn’t rise till 4 am. The Orionids meteor shower peaks on the 21st/22nd of October with up to 20 meteors per hour.  Dust and debris from Halley’s Comet are the origins of this meteor shower.  Unfortunately this year, we have a waxing gibbous moon which may interfere with viewing.  The radiating point for this meteor shower is the constellation of Orion.  You will find this constellation low on the eastern horizon prior to midnight.

 Constellation Pisces


Pisces - Urania's Mirror 1825

Pisces is Latin for Fishes and is located just south of Pegasus in the night sky as part of the zodiac.  According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite and her son Eros were visiting Syria by the river Euphrates when all of a sudden Typhon appeared, startled Aphrodite and Eros hurled themselves in the river where they turned themselves into fish to escape.  It is thought this event was commemorated by placing the fishes in the night sky.  The Babylonians also named this constellation the Fish prior to the Greeks incorporating it into their star lore.  For the Babylonians, the fish is sacred to their water god, Enki.  Omens relating to this constellation foretell floods and abundance in rivers and oceans.  The Messier 33 Triangulum galaxy is located adjacent to Pisces in the constellation of Triangulum.

Fall’N’Stars 2026

This year thirty people made the trek to the south shore for our annual fall star party, 11-13 September.  Mother Nature blessed us will a lovely clear Friday night for observing our celestial wonders.  Saturday afternoon was also clear allowing for some great solar viewing.  Professor Robin Metcalfe from York University presented ‘Chasing Aurorae Across Time’ later in the evening.  Although clouds did move in Saturday evening, no rain fell to dampen the camper’s spirits.  As a result, plans are already underway for next year’s star party!



 

References (October/November Blog):

Boeckmann, Catherine, Full Moon Names 2026 [online]. Almanac, updated 31 December 2025 [cited 3 January 2026]. Available from: https://www.almanac.com/full-moon-names

Burnham, Robert, Burnham’s Celestial Handbook Vol 3 (New York: Dover Publications, 1978)

Draconids Meteor Shower 2026 [online], Timeanddate, [cited 4 January 2026]. Available online from: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/draconid.html

Edgar, James S. ed., RASC Observer’s Handbook 2026, ed. by James S. Edgar (Marquis Book Printing, 2025)

Hard, Robin, Eratosthenes & Hyginus: Constellation Myths (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015)

Leonids Meteor Shower 2026 [online], Timeanddate, [cited 4 January 2026]. Available from: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/leonids.html

Mortillaro, Nicole, Night Sky Guide 2026 (Richmond Hill: Firefly Books, 2025)

Orionids Meteor Shower 2026 [online], Timeanddate, [cited 4 January 2026]. Available online from: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/orionid.html

White, Gavin, Babylonian Star-Lore: An Illustrated Guide to the Star-Lore & Constellations of Ancient Babylonia (London: Solaria Publications, 2014)