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Last Notes

2026-10-21 14:50:18 GMT

Orionid Meteor Shower, Morning 22-23 October 2026
Morning sky as seen from Darwin facing north at 4:00 am ACST on
22 October (90 minutes before sunrise), the Orionid radiant is indicated with a starburst. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at an equivalent local time. Click to embiggen.Morning sky as seen from Brisbane facing north at 3:44 am AEST on
22 October (90 minutes before sunrise), the Orionid radiant is indicated with a starburst. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at an equivalent local time. Click to embiggen.Morning sky as seen from Adelaide facing north at 4:55 am ACDST on
22 October (90 minutes before sunrise), the Orionid radiant is indicated with a starburst. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at an equivalent local time. Click to embiggen.
The Orionids are a worthwhile shower that somewhat favours the Southern Hemisphere, normally best seen between 2-5 am, with the radiant, the point where meteors appear to originate from, being just under Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion. The maps above show the views from Darwin, Brisbane and Adelaide at astronomical twilight (90 minutes before sunrise). Similar views will be seen at the equivalent local time at similar latitudes (Adelaide stands in for Melbourne, Sydney and Perth).
If you draw an imaginary line between Procyon and Aldebaran, then drop
another imaginary line from Betelgeuse to the horizon, the radiant is
just next to the intersection of those two lines.
The Orionids are the debris from Halley's comet. The Orionids maximum is on October 21 UT (October 22 Australian time).
This year the waning Moon will significantly interfere with viewing in the early evening and the rates will be low. Once the moon sets around 4 am the rates will be better.
The best viewing is the mornings of the 22nd-23rd, when between 4-5 am
under dark skies you should see about a meteor every 5-6 minutes once the Moon has set,
although reasonable rates will be seen the mornings before and after
(see table below).
The NASA meteor flux estimator has been taken down, but you can find out the predicted rates for your location using this meteor shower flux estimator set to your location. https://astrophotosgy.com/tools/meteor-shower-planner/?lat=-34.8212&lon=138.4922&date=2026-10-22&time=02%3A00&shower=orionids .
The following table shows the predicted peak rates from around moon set local
time (roughly 2 hours before local sunrise on the mornings of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of October for a number
of
cities under dark sky conditions (rates under suburban or city light
conditions will be lower). Rates will be similar at the same
latitude as these cities, and rates will be intermediate at spots
between these cities.
TownMorning October 22Morning October 23Morning October 24
Adelaide11 meteors/hr12 meteors/hr12 meteors/hr
Brisbane14 meteors/hr14 meteors/hr14 meteors/hr
Cairns16 meteors/hr16 meteors/hr16 meteors/hr
Canberra11 meteors/hr12 meteors/hr12 meteors/hr
Darwin17 meteors/hr17 meteors/hr17 meteors/hr
Perth13 meteors/hr13 meteors/hr13 meteors/hr
Melbourne10 meteors/hr11 meteors/hr11 meteors/hr
Sydney12 meteors/hr12 meteors/hr12 meteors/hr
Hobart9 meteors/hr9 meteors/hr9 meteors/hr
You can follow the progress of the shower at the IMO Orionids live page.
If you decide to get up, allow at least 5 minutes for your eyes to adjust, and
be patient, it may be several minutes before you are rewarded with you
first meteor, then a couple will come along in quick succession.
Choose a
viewing spot where you can see a large swathe of sky without trees or
buildings getting in the way, or with street-lights getting in your
eyes.
The darker the spot the better (but do be sensible, don't choose a spot
in an insalubrious park for example). Look to the north-east, and the
distinctive red star Betelgeuse below the saucepan will be easy to spot, forming a rough line with with bright Procyon, Mars and Jupiter below and to the east of it.
The meteors should originate just below Betelgeuse. However, let your eyes
roam a bit to pick up meteors that begin their "burn" a fair distance
from the radiant.
A lawn chair or something similar
will make your observing comfortable (or a picnic rug spread on the
ground and a nice pillow), and having a Thermos of hot coffee, tea or
chocolate to swig while watching will increase your comfort. (Here's
some
hints on dark adaption of your eyes so you can see meteors better).
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2026/10/orionid-meteor-shower-morning-22-23.html
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1KE5hqcUwQPa9Yp_wr39KAqMerpUE2TVjyIPjrHR-OSYHwDHQ3ZkojaoKdkMTWYZscyM575V-fSJuCHCJlcHQhPRWAM_ZpxtXsv295pLxxGXwiOTXnz_BG4cU_u3m5r93lBXab09T6f0FpQB2o0gCSaUaiHJVXQvhyk2eGjnHxuHMBMkRdA/s320/DAR_Orion_22-10-2026_0505.png
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#october #similar #shower #australia #moon #adelaide #darwin
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 23:55:16 GMT

Thursday 22 October to Thursday October 29
The Full Moon is Monday October 26. Occultation of Beta Tauri 29th. Saturn is past opposition, but still magnificent in telescopes. The waxing Moon is close to Saturn on the 24th. Mars is not far from Jupiter low in the morning sky and the pair come closer over the week. In the evening, Venus is lost in the twilight as Mercury sinks towards the horizon. The Orionid meteor shower is best on the mornings of the 22nd and 23rd.
The Full Moon is Monday October 26. The Moon at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on October 29, difficult occultation of Beta Tauri is also on the 29th.
North-Eastern horizon on the morning of Saturday, October 24 as seen from
Adelaide
at 4:52 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars forms a line with Jupiter and the bright star Regulus. The pair come closer over the week ahead of a spectacular meeting in November.
The insets shows the telescopic view of Mars Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Western sky on the evening of Saturday, October 24 as seen from Adelaide
at 20:36 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Mercury is low above the horizon under Scorpios.
Venus is lost in the twilight
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).
North-eastern horizon on the evening of Saturday, October 24 as seen from
Adelaide at 21:08 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).
Saturn
is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th and is still a magnificent telescopic sight.
The Moon is not far from Saturn making it easy to find the ringed world.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Elsewhere
in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Morning sky as seen from Adelaide facing north at 4:00 am ACDST on Thursday 22 October, the Orionid radiant is indicated with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at an equivalent local time. Click to embiggen.
The Orionids are a normally worthwhile shower, best seen between 2-4 am, the radiant being just under Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion. This year the waning Moon will significantly interfere with viewing in the early evening and the rates will be low, once the moon sets around 4 am the rates will be better. The best viewing is the mornings of the 21st to 23rd with the highest rates on the morning of the 22nd, when between 4-5 am under dark skies you should see about a meteor every 4-5 minutes or so.
Occultation of Beta Tauri (Elnath), Thursday October 29/30. (waning)
The western sky at 23:37 ACDST Thursday, October 29, as seen from
Adelaide. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Elnath low on the horizon.The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).The western sky at 00:0 AEDST Friday, October 30, as seen from Canberra. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Elnath low on the horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). The western sky at 00:51 AEST Friday, October 30, as seen from Melbourne. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Elnath low on the horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).
An occultation best seen from the east coast around midnight. The Moon is waning and low above the horizon. The Moon rises with Elnath occulted in most locations.
PlaceDisappears Dark Limb Reappears Bright Limb
Adelaide ACDST-00:07 (30th)
Brisbane AEST-23:48
Canberra AEDST 23:5400:53(30th)
Darwin ACST--
Hobart AEDST
-01:00 (30th)
Melbourne AEDST-00:51 (30th)
Perth AWST--
Sydney AEDST
23:55 00:55 (30th)
Whole sky on Saturday, October 24 as seen from Adelaide
at 21:08 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).
Saturn is visible in the northeast
Scorpius, and the core of the Milky way are sinking to the west.
The Pointers are declining from their zenith in the Southern sky as the Southern Cross sinks to the south west. The Moon is waxing and
the fainter clusters and nebula are harder to see.
Elsewhere
in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Mercury is lowering in the the evening twilight.
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Mars is low in the twilight not far from Jupiter. The pair come closer over the week ahead of a spectacular meeting in November.
Jupiter climbs higher the morning twilight but remains low on the horizon forming a line with Mars and the bright star Regulus.
Saturn Saturn was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th. Saturn
is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon. The moon is not far from Saturn on the 24th making it easy to find the ringed world.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm ACST, Western sky at 10 pm ACST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2026/10/thursday-22-october-to-thursday-october.html
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aV3w4Fr0DBgJCaeXUJMGqW3QpfsACcD3-UpEOndo62rST-i0lzdfFktKaNC64cCjyi00G8FC1aPMoFZMBBrctvKkwfpwcXuuMRCiITveyD2W96cHuz1pMZjKSfG1-Gzx1hnhi2SLYMOWG-RVWbmGRq3IfutngI9uBgPXRuu2gj4NGpa9YtA/s320/Mars_24-10-26_0452.png
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#october #thursdayoctober #moon #betatauri #fullmoon #saturn #acdst #australia #jupiter #morning
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-17 14:38:25 GMT

Seeing Crescent Venus in Binoculars
Venus in the twilight on Friday, October 16 as seen from Largs Pier at 20:08 ACST. Samsung S24, 5x Zoom, ISO 2000 1/33 sec exposureWestern sky on the evening of Saturday, October 17 as seen from Adelaide at 20:08 ACST (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is just above the horizon and below Mercury. Venus is a clear thin "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily in 10x50 binoculars (although the brightness may make it hard to see due to internal lens reflections).
The planets seen thorough binoculars are generally disappointing, Jupiter is a clear oblate spheroid, although featureless, but you can see the bright sparks of its satellites shuttling around. Saturn is a featureless ellipse, where you cant distinguish the rings from the planets body (but is is clearly an elliptical shape much boarder than Jupiter).
Very bad, cloud affected view of crescent Venus taken with my 10x50 binoculars and Samsung S24 on October 14, 20:00 ACDST.
But for the next few days you can easily see crescent Venus in 10x50 binoculars (and even to an extent in smaller binoculars).
The wire thin crescent shape is readily seen in 10x50 binoculars, although the brightness may make it hard to see due to internal lens reflections. Best seen close to twilight and with a binocular stand or something to rest your arms on so the binoculars don't shake.
You only have about 4 more days until Venus disappears into the twilight, but then by the 30th is is high enough above the eastern twilight horizon for the thin crescent to be seen in binoculars.
So why not grab you binoculars and go have a look tonight?
http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2026/10/seeing-crescent-venus-in-binoculars.html
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobhtRcDmLMe3Yo8GHTVQxBQ4iWrNVwdP1Ucncd5QytIJ-U0Avv1fIEfV5t5r7Ar4tf6KKDdsS9KThX2_NnNCoRss9KnPZ-r1LC13A5mY3pQc74KImtfEa873kAA_YQnnl7VG7BMUi3Vw3W6_XrMz8LXgWfFVM9ukvNfcK3vrN4aBm28W0bxs/s320/Scalled%20Venus%20Twilight%202008%2016-10-26.jpg
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https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFQ6Dlb-sgfZSL4xbKQY-BbNNzp_MFyALo_SlH9oiaufZQ6IL9ogmbKwNmBq4w-3VfbW9iF5sUxWgCZ5jP1TYL8-P4XpL9u4In30WGz4v6ELAlMRc6EaoQci5coBZxo_srJzXGJ6XwTmcKRzc32CcJDsvK7fzQrZhlfX-iCtEG57-arOalZQ/s320/Binocular%20Venus%2015-10-26_1957.jpg
#crescentvenus #binoculars #october #largspier #acst #jupiter #samsung #friday #iso #zoom
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 05:09:39 GMT

Mars Crosses the Beehive cluster 10-13 October, 2026
North-Eastern horizon on the morning of Monday, October 12 as seen from
Adelaide
at 5:11 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Mars is in the heart of the Beehive cluster (M44). Mars forms a line with Jupiter and the bright star Regulus.
The insets shows the binocular view of Mars in the Beehive cluster and telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.
Black and white binocular chart suitable for printing showing the
movement of Mars with respect to the Beehive from 10 to 13 October. The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. The small circle the field of view of a 30 mm telescope eyepiece. use the horizon chart to the left for orientation, Jupiter and Pollux will help guide you, although Mars is obvious. Click to embiggen and print and use with a red-light torch (or a standard torch with red cellophane over it) so as to not disturb your night vision..
Binocular view of Mars in the heart of the Beehive (M44) om 11 October at 5:12 ACDST as simulated in stellarium. The guide stars are as indicated in the Black and white binocular chart (click to embiggen). Binocular view of Mars in the heart of the Beehive (M44) om 12 October at 5:12 ACDST as simulated in stellarium. The guide stars are as indicated in the Black and white binocular chart (click to embiggen).
From Saturday 10 October to Tuesday 13 June, Mars crosses the Beehive cluster (M44) in the morning. Under dark skies this delightful open cluster looks like a faint nebulous patch, but binoculars or a telescope will reveal it's wonderful starry mass.
While in principle seeing Mars in the heart of the beehive is possible with the unaided eye, this is far better seen with binoculars or a small telescope, On the 10th Mars on on the outskirts of the cluster, and on the 11th and 12th Mars is in the heart of the cluster. Then on the 13th it is on the outskirts again. The cluster fits neatly into medium power telescope eyepiece fields on the on the 11th and 12th, although it is close to the horizon (16° at astronomical twilight). On the days leading up to the crossing and a couple of days after, Mars and the cluster are in the same binocular field.
The view is best at Astronomical twilight, and hour and a half before sunrise, much later than this and the Beehive gets washed out by the encroaching twilight. Mars is not so bright that it will drown out the clusters dimmer stats, so this will be a nice opportunity for some astrophotography.
http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2026/10/mars-crosses-beehive-cluster-10-13.html
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgb7tMxza3gXkODCA4EgaKoMoOJcRPEkea-VlWli0QiGah3RVdflOxaEXQa6KVy-b3qdofmTBoUu8q36u0AELps81G7p9KeBT4wjQdrsUINdUrmuB5QjeDG0CVA82OpToffZcCIECpo63r9MC_8lT-Jz78vL1gdLExuzWGQ2MMF_LiNd4jn8/s320/Mars_12-10-26_0542.png
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2026-10-16 03:25:06 GMT

Thursday 15 October to Thursday October 22
The First Quarter Moon is Monday October 19. Twilight Lunar X visible 0n the 18th. Saturn is just past opposition, but still magnificent in telescopes. Mars is not far from Jupiter low in the morning sky. In the evening, Venus is sinking into the twilight with Mercury above it. The asteroid Vesta can be seen in binoculars. The Orionid meteor shower is best on the mornings of the 22nd and 23rd.
The First Quarter Moon is Monday October 19. The Moon at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on October 17.
North-Eastern horizon on the morning of Saturday, October 17 as seen from
Adelaide
at 5:03 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars is in the heart of the Beehive cluster (M44). Mars forms a line with Jupiter and the bright star Regulus.
The insets shows the telescopic view of Mars Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Western sky on the evening of Saturday, October 17 as seen from Adelaide
at 20:13 ACST (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus is just above the horizon and below Mercury.
Venus is a clear thin "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes, and even 10x50 binoculars (although the brightness may make it hard to see due to internal lens reflections).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset).
North-eastern horizon on the evening of Saturday, October 17 as seen from
Adelaide at 21:00 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).
Saturn
is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th and is still a magnificent telescopic sight.
The asteroid Vesta is past opposition but is still easily visible in binoculars. Unfortunately there are no bright guide stars to easily get to it, but my Seeing Vesta page has useful printed charts to help locate Vesta.
The insets shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Elsewhere
in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Lunar X and V as seen at sunset on the 18th (although true First Quarter is on the 19th), they will still be visible in the twilight 45 minutes after sunset. The Moon is very obvious above the northwest horizon.Closer telescopic view of the Lunar X and V at sunset
Dates and time Lunar X and V are visible. Typically visible from about 4hours from the starting time, times in colour are daylight saving times.
DateUTAESTACSTAWST
Oct 18 05:3716:3716:0713:37 (moon in daylight, X but still visible in twilight)
Morning sky as seen from Adelaide facing north at 4:00 am ACDST on Thursday 22 October, the Orionid radiant is indicated with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at an equivalent local time. Click to embiggen.
The Orionids are a normally worthwhile shower, best seen between 2-4 am, the radiant being just under Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion. This year the waning Moon will significantly interfere with viewing in the early evening and the rates will be low, once the moon sets around 4 am the rates will be better. The best viewing is the mornings of the 21st to 23rd with the highest rates on the morning of the 22nd, when between 4-5 am under dark skies you should see about a meteor every 4-5 minutes or so.
Whole sky on Saturday, October 17 as seen from Adelaide
at 21:0 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).
Mercury is visible in the north-west. Saturn is visible in the northeast
Scorpius, and the core of the Milky way are coming off the Zenith.
The Pointers are declining from their zenith in the Southern sky as the Southern Cross sinks to the south west. The Moon is new and
the fainter clusters and nebula are easier to see.
Elsewhere
in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Mercury is high in the the evening twilight above bright Venus.
Venus is becoming bigger and is falling deeper in the twiligh bewlow mercury.
Mars is low in the twilight n0t far from Jupiter.
Jupiter climbs higher the morning twilight but remains low on the horizon forming a line with Mars and the bright star Regulus.
Saturn Saturn was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th. Saturn
is the brightest object above the eastern horizon.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm ACST, Western sky at 10 pm ACST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2026/10/thursday-15-october-to-thursday-october.html
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