2025, October 11: Jupiter’s Shadow Play, Venus in Virgo

October 11, 2025: The waning gibbous moon shines near Taurus, while Jupiter displays a rare double shadow event from Io and Europa. Venus continues eastward in front of Virgo, low in the eastern morning sky.

Moon in the Bull's Horns. October 8, 2020
2020, October 8: Among the stars along the ecliptic, the gibbous moon, overexposed and behind the tree leaves, is 3.3° to the upper left of Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau), the Southern Horn of Taurus, and nearly 7° to the lower left of Elnath, the Northern Horn.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:59 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:15 p.m. CDT.  Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.

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VENUS AS A MORNING STAR, 2025

Today’s Almanac for the Sun, Moon, and Planets

Sun: Daylight lasts 11 hours, 16 minutes. The sun is overhead at noon for locations at latitude 7° south.

Moon, October 11, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, October 11: Before sunrise, the gibbous moon is high in the southwestern sky, near Elnath, one of Taurus’ horns.

Moon: The moon sets about five hours after sunrise and rises three hours after sunset. An hour before sunrise, the waning gibbous moon, 75% illuminated, is high in the southwest, 5.0° from Elnath, Taurus’ horn.

Inner Planets

Mercury: The innermost planet is washed out by bright western evening twilight. It sets 38 minutes after sunset. During this evening apparition, the planet is difficult to see.

Venus passes Zavijava - October 11, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, October 11: During morning twilight, Venus passes Zavijava – also known as Beta Virginis – in the eastern morning sky.

Venus: The Morning Star continues its slow descent into twilight, leading to superior conjunction in about two months. This morning it is low in the east, stepping eastward in front of Virgo, 0.9° to the upper left of Zavijava (Beta Virginis). A binocular helps to see the star with the planet.

Mars: Covered by evening twilight, setting less than an hour after sundown.

Jupiter, October 11, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, October 11: Bright Jupiter is in the southeastern sky, near Pollux, a Gemini Twin.

Jupiter: Rising around midnight, Jupiter shines high in the southeast during morning twilight. At 3:10 a.m. Central Time, Io and Europa begin a double shadow event on its cloud tops. At 5:15 a.m., Io appears in front of the planet. A telescope capable of providing clear views at 100x magnification or higher is needed. Later, Jupiter is high in the southeast, to the lower right of Pollux, after passing the star yesterday in the first of three conjunctions.

Saturn, October 11, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, October 11: After sunset, Saturn is in the east-southeast.

Saturn: The Ringed Wonder is the lone bright planet visible after sundown, until Jupiter rises. It is low in the east-southeast as darkness falls. During the night it appears higher and farther westward, setting over two hours before sunrise. The planet continues to retrograde in front of Pisces, though the stars are difficult to see from the effects of outdoor lighting. Through a telescope, the rings are seen nearly edge-on, appearing as a thin line.

Uranus: Near the Pleiades, Uranus is washed out by moonlight.

Neptune: In the same binocular field as Saturn, the modern solar system’s most-distant planet is also spoiled by moonlight. Wait for the crescent moon phase before attempting a view.

A bright gibbous moon highlights Taurus before sunrise, Venus passes near Zavijava in Virgo, and Jupiter shows a double shadow event from its moons Io and Europa.

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