Early risers in the Driftless Area will be able to see three worlds slowly shifting in the eastern sky before dawn this month: Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. Look for them an hour or so before sunrise, which is 7:00 at the start of the month and 7:35 at the end of the month.
Venus is the easiest to find. On October 1, it rises 2 ½ hours before the sun and is the brightest light in the sky. Look for it high in the east. Jupiter is the second-brightest object and is 17 degrees below and a little to the left of Venus. That’s about the distance between your pointer and pinkie when held at arm’s length. Mars is much dimmer and ruddier and halfway between the two. There’s a bright star halfway between Mars and Venus. That’s Regulus. It’s a nice reference point as you watch the wanderings of the three planets.
A week later, the waning crescent moon joins the show. Look for it just above Venus on October 8, just to the right of Jupiter and Mars on October 9, and below Jupiter on October 10. If you want a challenge, you may be able to see a fourth planet, Mercury, on October 11 when it is just above the moon. You’ll need a clear horizon to the east and maybe binoculars to see the innermost planet. Best time to look is between 6 and 6:30. Look for Earthshine on the dark side of the moon. That’s sunlight being reflected by day side of Earth onto the night side of the moon.
The planets get even closer together in the second half of October. On October 17, Mars and Jupiter pass by one another less than half a degree apart. That’s the width of a full moon. You could cover both with just your little finger. Venus and Jupiter are closest together on October 25 and 26 when they are just one degree apart. On October 27 and 28, all three planets are grouped within five degrees and can be enjoyed all at once in your binoculars. On November 2 and 3, Venus and Mars will be less than one degree apart.
If you are not an early riser, don’t feel left out. You can see Saturn in the southwestern sky after sunset. October 15 and 16 are good dates when the moon is just to the right and then the left of Saturn. You can have a look at Saturn through a telescope at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Dam Challenge Stargaze on Friday, October 2nd 7-9 pm. Be sure to enjoy the Friends of KVR Pasta Dinner from 5-8 pm.
In only five weeks this fall, you will have seen these three worlds dance in the dawn shifting position from Venus/Mars/Jupiter to Jupiter/Mars/Venus and maybe even caught a glimpse of a fourth world, Mercury, all while enjoying the autumnal world of our Driftless Area.
John Heasley is an astronomy educator and stargazer who enjoys connecting people with the cosmos. He volunteers with NASA/JPL as a Solar System Ambassador. For more information about stargazing in southwest WI, like Driftless Stargazing LLC on Facebook and find out whenever there’s something awesome happening in the skies. Driftless Dark Skies appears monthly in the Voice of the River Valley.