2026, October 5: Moon Near Mars, Bright Jupiter, and Planet Almanac for Early October Sky Watching

October 5, 2026: The crescent moon passes Mars and the Beehive Cluster before a Jupiter occultation. Saturn is in the sky all night, while Uranus and Neptune are visible with a binocular.

2026, October 2: Three Bright Planets and the Moon Before Sunrise

October 2, 2026: The moon passes Elnath before reaching Last Quarter phase. Mars approaches the Beehive cluster while Jupiter shines near Regulus and Saturn nears opposition.

2026, September 28: Harvest Moon Shines Near Saturn While Jupiter and Mars Dominate the Morning Sky

September 28, 2026: The Harvest Moon shines near Saturn while Jupiter and Mars brighten the predawn sky. Venus and Mercury remain low after sunset as Saturn approaches opposition.

2026, September 21: Harvest Moon Nights Begin as Venus and Jupiter Dominate the Sky

September 21, 2026: Venus nears its greatest brilliancy while the Harvest Moon grows brighter each evening. Saturn rises earlier as opposition approaches, and Jupiter and Mars dominate the predawn sky.

2026, September 17: Mars Passes Pollux Before Sunrise: Watch the Red Planet Align With Twins

September 17, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Pollux in a wide conjunction while Jupiter shines from Cancer. Follow the Red Planet’s eastward march against Gemini as it closes the gap with Jupiter.

2026, September 16: Venus After Sunset, Moon Near Antares, Saturn Near Opposition, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise

September 16, 2026: Brilliant Venus shines low in evening twilight while the crescent moon appears near Antares. Saturn nears opposition, and Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern predawn sky.

2026, September 14: Lunar Crescent Near Venus, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise

September 14, 2026: The crescent moon appears near Venus after sunset while Jupiter and Mars shine before sunrise. Saturn nears opposition, Uranus is easy to locate near the Pleiades, and Neptune remains a challenging binocular target.

2026, September 12: Mars Passes Castor Before Sunrise While Closing on Jupiter

September 12, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Castor in a wide conjunction while continuing its eastward march in front of Gemini. Jupiter shines lower in the eastern sky as Mars slowly closes the gap for their November conjunction.