Derekscope

The Orionid Meteor Shower stills active
now until Friday 7th November 2025.
o

• Thursday 2nd October thru Saturday 22nd November 2025
  The Orionid Meteor Shower officially begins on 2nd October, launching a few weeks of “shooting stars.”, running through 7th November 2025.
  o
• More read – Radiant position
  o

oooo

Mercury at greatest elongation west

• Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation, meaning it will be farthest from the Sun in the evening sky.
  o
• Look in the western sky, shortly after sunset.
  o
• Mercury’s low position in the autumn evening sky will make it difficult to see, particularly from the UK.
  o

oooo

• Clocks go backward an hour at 2am on the last Sunday this month.
  o
• At 2am British Summer Time, the clock goes backward to 01:00UT (Universal Times).
  o

• The timing is favorable because of close approach the comet may reach a brightness that allows visibility with binoculars (e.g. ~ 7×50, 10×50, 15×70 or more to increase your chances) – maybe even the naked eye under dark skies.
  o
• Look after sunset, toward the northwest horizon, the comet moves into the constellation Bootes and near the bright star Arcturus.
  o
• The comet is described as having a greenish coma and potentially showing a tail making it visually interesting ~ however it can be unpredictable, actual brightness and tail length can vary and local conditions (horizon, light pollution, weather matter, etc).
  o

Look out for Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6)

• It is easy to find this evening located the star Izar, after the sunset.
  o
• Find Izar is a star in the constellation Boötes is home to the bright orange star Arcturus.
  o
• Comet Lemmon will be positioned about 2 degrees to the left of Izar.
  o
• It may be bright enough to see without optical aid under dark, light-pollution-free conditions, but binoculars are recommended for the best view.
  o
• Even if visible to the naked eye, expect to see a fuzzy, white or bluish glow rather than a distinct point of light in the dark location.
  o
  o

Look out for earthshine

• This celestial alignment, a conjunction of the Moon and Venus, is a treat visible to the naked eye and can be framed with a scenic backdrop for photos.
  o
• Binoculars can enhance the view of the faint glow on the Moon’s dark side, known as earthshine.
  o
  o

Moon & Venus

• See the bright planet Venus alongside a very thin, crescent-shaped Moon, with both objects relatively close together.
  o
• The Moon will be a waning crescent, meaning it will be a thin, sliver-like shape, just days away from its New Moon phase.
  o

Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) is your pick this month

• It is brightening fast and now (mid-October) is becoming a binocular ~ possibly naked-eye object in the dark skies.
  o
• Its closest approach to Earth occurs on Tuesday 21st October 2025.
  o
• It will move from being a pre-dawn object to being visible after sunset in the western sky in late October.
  o
• Use a star chart or astronomy app in explaining BSL that can show you where Lemmon C/2025 A6 is.
  o

Algol
(bright variable Star Beta Persei)

• The bright variable Star Beta Persei (Algol) reaches minimum brightness.
  o
• This variable star in Perseus varies from its brightest at magnitude +2.1, dropping to +3.4.
  o
• Even when dimmed, Algol is still visible to the naked eye.
  o
• Read more – Algol
  – How to find Algol in Perseus?
  – Deaf astronomer John Goodricke
  

oooo

oooo