Derekscope

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.
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• Binoculars can enhance the view of the faint glow on the Moon’s dark side, known as earthshine.
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Moon & Venus

• See the bright planet Venus alongside a very thin, crescent-shaped Moon, with both objects relatively close together.
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• The Moon will be a waning crescent, meaning it will be a thin, sliver-like shape, just days away from its New Moon phase.
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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.
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• Its closest approach to Earth occurs on Tuesday 21st October 2025.
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• It will move from being a pre-dawn object to being visible after sunset in the western sky in late October.
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• Use a star chart or astronomy app in explaining BSL that can show you where Lemmon C/2025 A6 is.
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Algol
(bright variable Star Beta Persei)

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

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Moon near the Beehive Cluster

• Messier 44 (The Beehive Cluster) is one of the most famous deep-sky objects.
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• The moon and cluster will be visible low in the east-northeastern sky just before sunrise, though binoculars will greatly help to spot the faint Beehive.
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To observe Jupiter and the Moon together

• Jupiter is a large and bright planet, so you can find it by looking to the right of the crescent Moon.
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• Jupiter will be visible next to the Last Quarter Moon from just before midnight until sunrise.
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• Even without any equipment, you can see both the Moon and the planet Jupiter with your naked eyes.
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• With binoculars, you can see Jovian systems (Jupiter’s moons) but they will appear as tiny, star-like points of light, and you may only see some of the four largest moons, the Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede & Callisto).
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To observe Saturn’s moon – Titan
(Be preparing yourself at 23:45pm)

• You can see Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, with a telescope or powerful binocular, will appear as a small, orangish point of light near Saturn.
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• You may see Titan disappear behind the Saturn – be preparing yourself from 23:45 / 11.45pm just before midnight on 13th October, Titan will disappear around 00:12am behind the Saturn on the early morning of 14th October.
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The Moon & M45 (Seven Sisters)

• A close approach between the Moon and the M45 (Pleiades) star cluster on Friday 10th early morning but the Moon’s glare will make it difficult to see the cluster with the naked eye.
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• Though binoculars or a telescope should reveal the brightest stars of the cluster.
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• The Moon will appear less than one degree away from the Pleiades and will be 87% illuminated, appearing as a waning gibbous moon.
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The Moon & M45 (Seven Sisters)

• A close approach between the Moon and the M45 (Pleiades) star cluster on Friday 10th early morning but the Moon’s glare will make it difficult to see the cluster with the naked eye.
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• Though binoculars or a telescope should reveal the brightest stars of the cluster.
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• The Moon will appear less than one degree away from the Pleiades and will be 87% illuminated, appearing as a waning gibbous moon.
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A path of Comet ~ C/2004 E1 (Wierzchos)

• Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) is in the constellation of Hercules, at a distance of 358 million kilometers / 223 million miles from Earth on the 9th of October.
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• To “star hop” and find Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos), use a stargazing app or chart to locate it, and be prepared to use binoculars or a telescope for a better view, as it is currently faint at around magnitude +12. 
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• Find the comet’s location, which is currently near the star – Gamma (y) Herculis.
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• Consider astrophotography – due to its faintness, astrophotography with longer exposure times is an excellent method for detecting and capturing the comet, even if it’s difficult to see visually.
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