Derekscope

Close approach of the Moon and Saturn

• The Moon will pass close to Saturn on the nights of Sunday 5th and Monday 6th October 2025, with their closest approach occurring late on the 5th October.

• Saturn, with its iconic rings, is one of the brightest planets visible to the naked eye.
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• When it appears next to the Moon, it’s easy to spot and makes for a stunning sight.
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• You can see them without a telescope, though binoculars or a scope will enhance the view.
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DON’T MISS IT

Total Lunar Eclipse

The Moon will turn a deep coppery red!

(Click below for enlarge)

The Moon will rise above the horizon just in time for us
to see this total lunar eclipse from the UK.
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The maximum will occur at 7.33pm BST from the UK, with the eclipse’s actual maximum at 7.11pm when the Moon is below the horizon.
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The Moon will then gradually move out of Earth’s umbra and penumbra until 9.55pm.
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As the Moon will be low on the horizon and quite difficult to see, find a high point with a clear view to the East to see the most of this eclipse.
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See the table shows upcoming
UK Lunar eclipse date (2025 – 2030)
Next eclipses in the UK – Friday 28th August 2026

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How to sign eclipses in BSL?

Here the photo according to Monday 1st September 2025
(Close conjunction of Messier 44 & Venus.)

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Venus will be a very bright, steady light – the Beehive cluster, M44, will be nearby, though not particularly close. 

Venus is best viewed by looking low above the eastern horizon for about an hour before sunrise.
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Binoculars are recommended, as M44 is a visible star cluster to see wide view through binoculars of Venus’s brilliance and the fuzzy cluster of M44.
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Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation – that means it’s best seen in the morning sky, just before sunrise.

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The Red Moon ~ where the Moon illusion is appears larger near the horizon.
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The reddish appearance of the moon through the frequent sultry hazes of August also prompted a few tribes to dub it the Red Moon.

To observe the Moon appearing as a bright, nearly full Moon, rising in the east-southeast sky, and the moon illusion will be most noticeable as it rises.
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How to sign Moon in BSL?
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Saturn & Neptune at 180º South (4.30am BST)

This conjunction will be most visible in the pre-dawn hours.
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Saturn, being relatively bright, will be easily visible to the unaided eye, while Neptune, being much fainter, will require binoculars or a small telescope for observation.

How to sign Saturn & Neptune in BSL?
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Look at the south-southwest horizon, Antares can be mistaken for Mars in the constellation Scorpius.

The Moon and Antares will appear close together in the sky, but not occulted, in some regions (Polynesia, New Zealand, South America, ad Antarctica), the Moon will occult Antares, meaning it will pass in front of the star, making it briefly disappear.

Jupiter and Venus will be visible in the predawn eastern sky, drawing closer together as they head towards their conjunction on August 12th.
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They will be in the constellation Gemini, and while they might be too far apart to fit in a telescope’s field of view, they will be visible to the naked eye or with binoculars. 

Mars can be found in the west as evening twilight.
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Binoculars will be increased the view, especially with the moon’s nearness.
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How to sign Earthshine in BSL?
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