October 3-5, 2026: The waning moon approaches Mars before dawn October 3–5, passing the Beehive star cluster before its October 6 occultation (eclipse) of Jupiter.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Moon Approaches Mars
Before sunrise, the moon approaches and passes Mars before it nears Jupiter and the occultation (eclipse) on October 6.
Step outside an hour before sunrise. The moon is in the southeastern sky. Bright Jupiter is less than halfway from the east-southeast horizon to overhead, 10° to Regulus’ upper right, Leo’s brightest star. The Jovian Giant is brighter than all the stars in the sky this morning, including Sirius, 30° above the southern horizon. The planet slowly rambles eastward in front of the Lion.
Red-orange Mars is over 50° above the southeast horizon and nearly 20° to Jupiter’s upper right. The planet marches eastward in front of Cancer as it approaches the Beehive star cluster. The Red Planet is over 10° to Pollux’s lower right, one of the Gemini Twins.
Mars is slowly overtaking Jupiter as their conjunction approaches on November 16. Watch the gap slowly close during the next several weeks.
Highlights
Here’s what to see on these three mornings:
- October 3: The Last Quarter moon is high in the southeastern sky, nearly 15° to Pollux’s upper right and nearly 25° to Mars’ upper right. The Jupiter–Mars gap is 16.9°.
- October 4: The thick crescent moon, 40% illuminated, is over 60° above the east-southeast horizon. It is 3.9° to Pollux’s lower right. Notice that Castor, Pollux, Moon are nearly in a line. Mars is 10.4° to the moon’s lower left. The Jupiter–Mars gap is 16.5°.
- October 5: The crescent moon, 29% illuminated, is nearly 50° above the east-southeast horizon, 3.3° to Mars’ lower left and 12.9° to Jupiter’s upper right. Jupiter is occulted (eclipsed) by the moon tomorrow morning. Use a binocular to see Mars and the crescent moon with the Beehive star cluster.
Watch the moon approach and pass Mars while appearing with the Beehive star cluster on October 5. Mark your calendar for the moon’s early morning occultation (eclipse) of Jupiter on October 6.
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