PAGASA

Calendar of Astronomical Events OCTOBER 2026

Date	Event	Time
01-04	100 Hours of Astronomy	---
02	Moon at Perigee (Distance = 369,368.198 km)	04:52 a.m.
04	Saturn at opposition	08:29 p.m.
04-10	World Space Wee	---
05	Conjunction of Venus and Mercury	11:00 p.m.
06	Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter	06:16 p.m.
06	Close Approach of the Moon and Jupiter	06:23 p.m.
11	Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky	---
12	Mercury at greatest elongation east	06:03 p.m.
13	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury	04:08 a.m.
17	Moon at Apogee (Distance = 404,572.972 km)	06:56 a.m.
18	Mercury at dichotomy	12:55 a.m.
21	Orionid meteor shower (ZHR = 15)	---
24	Leonis Minorid meteor shower (ZHR = 3)	---
24	Close approach of the Waxing Gibbous Moon and Saturn	08:23 p.m.
25	Conjunction of the Waxing Gibbous Moon and Saturn	01:42 a.m.
29	Moon at Perigee (Distance = 364,477.094 km)	02:06 a.m.

Moon Phases

	Last Quarter
	Oct 03	09:25 PM
	New Moon
	Oct 10	11:50 PM
	First Quarter
	Oct 19	12:13 AM
	Full Moon
	Oct 26	12:12 PM

Rise and Set Times of Planets

Date	Mercury		Venus		Mars		Jupiter		Saturn
Date	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set
Oct 01	07:21 am	06:57 pm	07:52 am	07:09 pm	01:09 am	01:59 pm	02:28 am	03:04 pm	05:58 pm	06:09 am*
Oct 11	07:32 am	06:58 pm	07:08 am	06:24 pm	12:55 am	01:42 pm	01:56 am	02:31 pm	05:16 pm	05:26 am*
Oct 21	07:26 am	06:45 pm	06:09 am	05:30 pm	12:40 am	01:23 pm	01:23 am	01:57 pm	04:34 pm	04:44 am*
Oct 31	06:36 am	05:57 pm	05:05 am	04:35 pm	12:23 am	01:03 pm	12:49 am	01:22 pm	03:52 pm	04:02 am*

* = following day

Stars and Constellation

As October arrives, the night sky presents a changing arrangement of stars, revealing constellations that are especially prominent during this time of year. In the northern sky, Cepheus, Lacerta, and Pegasus stand out, while Aquarius, Piscis Austrinus, and Grus dominate the southern sky. At 09:00 p.m. on 15 October 2026, these constellations will be prominently positioned across the sky, as illustrated in Figure 1. [1]

Figure 1: The view of the night sky featuring the prominent October constellations at 09:00 p.m. on 15 October 2026 using the Stellarium software.

Lacerta, the Lizard, is a small and faint constellation with no stars brighter than magnitude 3.00. Its brightest star, Alpha Lacertae, is a white main-sequence star of magnitude 3.76, about 102 light-years from Earth. Roughly twice the Sun’s size and 31 times as luminous, it forms part of Lacerta’s distinctive “W” pattern, earning it the nickname “Little Cassiopeia”. Despite its faintness, Lacerta contains notable objects, including BL Lacertae, the prototype of a class of highly variable active galactic nuclei called blazars; the open cluster NGC 7243, about 2,800 light-years away and 100 million years old; and the irregular galaxy NGC 7250 [Figure 2a]. Lacerta lies roughly halfway between Deneb in Cygnus and Mirach in Andromeda. [2,3,4]

Figure 2: The Northern Constellations

Pegasus is one of the easiest October constellations to identify, marked by the distinctive Great Square of Pegasus. The asterism forms the horse’s main body and consists of the stars Markab (Alpha Pegasi), Scheat (Beta Pegasi), Algenib (Gamma Pegasi), and Alpheratz (Alpha Andromedae) from neighboring Andromeda. With magnitudes of 2.04 - 2.83, these stars are prominent to the naked eye under clear, dark skies. Pegasus’s brightest star is Enif (Epsilon Pegasi), an orange supergiant of magnitude 2.39 that marks the horse’s muzzle.

Covering about 1,121 square degrees, Pegasus is the seventh-largest constellation and contains notable deep-sky objects, including NGC 7331 [Figure 2b], a spiral galaxy similar in size, shape, and mass to the Milky Way; Stephan’s Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, four of which are physically associated while the fifth is a foreground galaxy; and NGC 7742 [Figure 2c], a ring galaxy known as the “Fried Egg Galaxy.” [2,5] South of Pegasus lies Aquarius, the Water Bearer, recognizable by its distinctive Water Jar asterism. Spanning about 980 square degrees, it is the 10th-largest constellation. Its brightest stars, Sadalsuud and Sadalmelik, are supergiants about 610 and 520 light-years away, respectively, and, together with M2, form a useful triangular guide to the globular cluster. Aquarius also contains notable deep-sky objects, including the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) [Figure 3a], the Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) [Figure 3b], and NGC 7252, or the Atoms for Peace Galaxy.
The Saturn Nebula resembles the planet Saturn through a small telescope, while NGC 7252 is a remnant of a collision between two galaxies. [2,6]

Figure 3: The Southern Constellations

Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, is a small constellation easily identified by the first-magnitude star Fomalhaut. Traditionally depicted as a fish drinking from Aquarius, its brightest star, Fomalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini) is a white main-sequence star about 25 light-years away and, at magnitude 1.16, the 18th-brightest star in the night sky. It is also known for its circumstellar disk and the directly imaged exoplanet candidate Fomalhaut b. Although the constellation has few deep-sky objects, it contains several galaxies visible through larger telescopes, including NGC 7173, NGC 7174, and NGC 7176, which form Hickson Compact Group 90 and are gravitationally interacting. Other notable galaxies include NGC 7314 [Figure 3c], NGC 7259, and NGC 7172. [2,7,8]

Planetary Location

Venus will be briefly visible low in the western sky as dusk fades into darkness during the first few days of October. Mercury will appear alongside Venus and remain observable until around mid-month. However, their low altitude above the horizon will make them increasingly difficult to observe as the month progresses. Saturn will rise in the east during the early evening and remain visible for most of the night before setting in the west before dawn. On 04 October at 08:29 p.m., Saturn, at magnitude 0.3, will reach opposition, appearing almost directly opposite the Sun in the sky and providing an optimal opportunity to observe the planet in the constellation Cetus. Meanwhile, Mars and Jupiter will also grace the early morning sky, rising in the east and remaining visible until the brightening sky near sunrise makes them difficult to observe. [1,9,10]

Figure 4: The view of the eastern sky showing the close pairing of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mars on 05 October at 02:00 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 05 October at 01:32 p.m., the Waning Crescent Moon and Mars will reach conjunction, separated by 1°09’. This will be followed by their closest apparent approach at 02:11 p.m., when their angular separation will narrow to 1°05’. The pair will be positioned within the constellation Cancer, with the Moon shining at magnitude -11.5 and Mars at magnitude 1.1. While the exact moments of conjunction and closest approach will not be observable because of daylight and the pair’s position below the horizon, skywatchers can still see the two objects together in the eastern sky beginning around 02:00 a.m. [Figure 4]. [10,11,12] On the same day, at 11:00 p.m., the two innermost planets, Venus and Mercury, will reach conjunction, with Venus passing 5°26’ south of Mercury. Venus will shine at magnitude -4.5, while Mercury will appear at magnitude -0.1, with both lying in the constellation Virgo. Although the conjunction will occur after the planets have set below the horizon, they will be briefly visible together low in the western sky around 06:10 p.m. [Figure 5]. [10,13]

Figure 5: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of Venus and Mercury on 05 October at 06:10 p.m. using Stellarium.

On 06 October at 06:16 p.m., the Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, reaching conjunction with an angular separation of 10 arcminutes. Around the same time, their separation will decrease by 0.5 arcminutes, marking their closest apparent approach, or appulse. Both objects will lie within Leo, with the Moon shining at magnitude -10.9 and Jupiter at magnitude -1.9. Although the exact timing of these events will be unobservable as both objects will be below the horizon, their close pairing will be visible from around 03:00 a.m. [Figure 6] as they rise in the eastern sky. [14,15] Mercury will be at its highest altitude in the evening sky on 11 October. The following day, at 06:03 p.m., it will reach greatest eastern elongation, attaining its maximum angular separation of 25.2° from the Sun. On 18 October at 12:55 a.m., Mercury will undergo dichotomy, when it will appear half illuminated. [10,16,17,18]

Figure 6: The view of the eastern sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Jupiter on 06 October at 03:00 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 13 October at 04:08 a.m., the Moon and Mercury will reach conjunction, separated by 2°07’, with the Moon lying south of Mercury. Shining at magnitudes -9.4 and -0.1, respectively, the objects will be positioned in Libra. The conjunction will occur below the horizon, but the pair will become visible together low in the western sky around 06:10 p.m. [Figure 7]. [10,19]

Figure 7: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Mercury on 13 October at 06:10 p.m. using Stellarium.

On 24 October at 08:23 p.m., the Waxing Gibbous Moon and Saturn will make a close approach, passing within 6°04’ of each other. Their conjunction will follow at 01:42 a.m. the following day, with the Moon lying 6°48’ north of Saturn. The Moon will appear at magnitude -12.7 in the constellation Pisces, while Saturn will be at magnitude 0.4 in Cetus. Both events will be observable in the night sky, as illustrated in Figure 8.
[10,20,21]

Figure 8: The view of the night sky showing the a) close approach at 08:23 p.m. on 24 October, and b) conjunction at 01:42 a.m. on 25 October of the Waxing Gibbous Moon and Saturn using Stellarium.

All the conjunctions and near approaches mentioned between the planet and the Moon, or planet to planet, will be visible enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope and can also be viewed with the naked eye or using a pair of binoculars.

Meteor Shower

Active from 02 October to 07 November, the Orionid meteor shower reaches peak activity around 21 October, with rates of up to 15 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. The shower is produced by dust and debris shed by Comet 1P/Halley, with its radiant situated in the constellation Orion. Rising above the eastern horizon at approximately 09:59 p.m., the radiant climbs to its highest altitude around 04:00 a.m. [Figure 9], providing the most favorable window for observation. It remains above the horizon until approximately 05:24 a.m. However, the Waxing Gibbous Moon is expected to produce significant interference throughout the night.
[22]

Figure 9: The view of the southeastern sky during the peak of the Orionid meteor shower on 21 October 2026 at 04:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

The Leonis Minorid meteor shower is a minor annual meteor shower active from 19-27 October, with peak activity expected around 24 October. It is associated with Comet C/1739 K1 and produces up to two (2) meteors per hour under perfectly dark-sky conditions. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo Minor, which gives the shower its name. The radiant rises above the eastern horizon at approximately 01:46 a.m. and remains visible until dawn at around 05:24 a.m. The best opportunity for observation is expected near 05:00 a.m. [Figure 10], when the radiant approaches its highest altitude. However, the Moon, located in Pisces and close to full phase during the shower’s peak, will brighten the sky and may significantly interfere with observations throughout the night. [23]

Figure 10: The view of the northeastern sky during the peak of the Leonis Minorid meteor shower on 24 October 2026 at 05:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

Meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed. Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions.

Watch: Astronomical Events for October 2026

Notes and References

Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)

References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840; The Philippine Star Atlas 2019/Stellarium Software
[2] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky.” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/october-constellations/, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[3] Go Astronomy, “LACERTA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Lacerta, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[4] Label Stars by Star Registration, “Lacerta Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellationslist/lacerta-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[5] Go Astronomy, “PEGASUS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Pegasus, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[6] Go Astronomy, “AQUARIUS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Aquarius, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[7] Go Astronomy, “PISCIS AUSTRINUS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Piscis%20Austrinus, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[8] Label Stars by Star Registration, “Piscis Austrinus Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellationslist/piscis-austrinus-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[9] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Saturn at opposition” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261004 12 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[10] Multi-Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA), Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[11] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Mars” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261005 20 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[12] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Mars” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261005 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[13] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of Venus and Mercury” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261005 20 101, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[14] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261006 20 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[15] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261006 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[16] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261012 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[17] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at greatest elongation east” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261012 11 101, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[18] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at dichotomy” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261017 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[19] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261012 20 101, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[20] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261024 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[21] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261024 20 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[22] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Orionid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261021 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.
[23] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20261024 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-09-16, 2026.

For more information, call or email:

Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 3015, 3016, 3017
Email address: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

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