Mid-October, 2025: About 90 minutes before daybreak, Orion stands high in the south with Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse forming the Winter Triangle. See the season’s brightest stars in the warming mornings of mid-October.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Morning Stars
Step outside about 90 minutes before daybreak, this is when morning twilight begins. Look into the southern sky. At the mid-northern latitudes, Orion – winter’s flagship winter constellation – stands about halfway up in the south.
Orion is easily recognized. Three bright stars of nearly equal brightness, make a short diagonal line. They are surrounded by a rectangle, with red-orange Betelgeuse at the upper left and blue-white Rigel to the lower right.
The constellation appeared low in the eastern sky before sunrise about three months ago. Rising earlier each morning, it is now in the south before sunrise. Soon it appears in the evening sky after sunset and then in the south during winter.
Sirius, the night’s brightest star, is to Orion’s lower left. While not as bright as Jupiter, high in the southeastern sky or Venus low in the east, it outshines all other stars this morning. It is part of the Canis Minor – the Big Dog.
Procyon – the Little Dog Star – is to Sirius’ upper left.
Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse are at the vertices of the Winter Triangle.
Of the 10 brightest stars visible from the mid-northern latitude, Sirius is brightest; Rigel, 5th; Procyon 6th; and Betelgeuse, 7th.
Compared to winter evening sky watching, mid-October provides warmer weather to look south and ponder the wonders of Orion and the surrounding stars.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, February 12: Waning Crescent Moon, Mercury Before Elongation, and Jupiter Bright After Sunset
February 12, 2026: Before sunrise, the waning crescent moon displays earthshine near Antares and Sagittarius. After sunset, Mercury climbs from twilight ahead of greatest elongation, Saturn fades, and Jupiter shines near Castor and Pollux. - 2026, February 11: Skywatching: Mercury Near Best Evening Visibility, Jupiter Bright
February 11, 2026: Mercury climbs higher after sunset toward greatest elongation on February 19. Jupiter shines in the east, Saturn fades, and no planet parade appears. - 2026, February 10-13: Morning Crescent Moon Near Scorpius and Sagittarius, Earthshine Before Sunrise
February 10-13: Before sunrise in mid-February, the waning crescent moon moves in front of Scorpius and Sagittarius. Learn when to see earthshine, Antares, and key reference stars in the southeastern sky. - 2026, February 9: Winter Stars Explained: Orion, Sirius, and the Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram
February 9, 2026: Explore winter’s brightest stars with a binocular. Learn how Orion, Sirius, and Betelgeuse reveal stellar temperature, color, and brightness through the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. - 2026, February 8: Sky Almanac: Moon Near Spica, Jupiter Bright, and No Planet Parade
February 8, 2026: Moon nears Spica before sunrise while Jupiter shines after sunset. Despite social media claims, only Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon are visible — not a planet parade.