Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W43

Week begins: Monday, October 20, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Oct 20, 2025♎ 29
Tue, Oct 21, 2025♎ 30
🌑 New Moon — 12:25:11 UTC
Tiaki (β Gru) — Naked eye 2 — Southern Autumn
Wed, Oct 22, 2025♎ 31
β Oct — Binoculars 4 — Antarctic Autumn
Thu, Oct 23, 2025♏ 1
♏ Sun enters Scorpio — 03:50:55 UTC
Fri, Oct 24, 2025♏ 2
Sat, Oct 25, 2025♏ 3
C9 / Sh2-155 · Cave Nebula — Telescope 8 — Northern Autumn
Fomalhaut (α PsA) — Naked eye 1 — Southern Autumn
Sun, Oct 26, 2025♏ 4
Scheat (β Peg) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Autumn
Fumalsamakah (β Psc) — Binoculars 4 — Tropical Autumn

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins October 20, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♎︎ 26°51′
β −0°00′		♎︎ 10°07′
β −1°57′		♏︎ 18°49′
β −2°14′		♎︎ 7°36′
β +1°32′		♏︎ 18°59′
β −0°16′		♋︎ 24°19′
β +0°04′		♓︎ 26°26′
β −2°29′
ObservingNight☉︎Naked eye -0.2☉︎Naked eye 1.5Naked eye -2.2Naked eye 0.7
Rise06:3705:1408:4204:5308:3722:2916:23
Set17:2316:3518:0416:4818:1513:4103:59

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♈︎ 5°52′
β −14°28′		♊︎ 0°42′
β −0°13′		♈︎ 0°03′
β −1°22′		♒︎ 1°23′
β −3°47′
ObservingTelescope 7.8Binoculars 5.6Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.5
Rise17:4718:4516:2514:18
Set04:2309:4404:2022:58

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 18:08:51 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W43 runs from October 20 through October 26. Mercury and Mars are separated by about 0.2° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn and Neptune are separated by about 3.6° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 12:25:11 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Tiaki, Fomalhaut, Scheat as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Tiaki: A Bright Star Core in the Constellation of Gru — An overview of the star Tiaki, highlighting its celestial significance and characteristics.

Fomalhaut: The Autumn Bright Star in Piscis Austrinus — A guide to the characteristics and significance of the prominent star Fomalhaut in the southern sky.

Scheat: A Bright Star at the Heart of Pegasus — An illuminating guide to the star's characteristics and celestial significance.

Planets: Moon: In solar glare; magnitude -5.6; direct motion; 2.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Oct 21 12:25 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 14:57 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 10:55 UTC. Mercury: Naked eye; magnitude -0.2; direct motion; 78.4% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 14:57 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Oct 20 06:51 UTC. Venus: In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 94.4% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.5; direct motion; 98.4% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 10:55 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Oct 20 06:51 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; retrograde motion; 99.5% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.2; direct motion; 99.1% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.7; retrograde motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.6; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Octans’s closed figure in the finder, then identify β Oct at its charted position. Trace Pisces’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Fumalsamakah at its charted position.

Beta Octantis: The Mysterious Constellation Enigma — An in-depth look at Beta Octantis, a significant yet understated star within the Oct constellation.

Fumalsamakah: A Noble Star in Pisces — Illuminating the celestial landscape with its steady glow, Fumalsamakah is a noteworthy star in the constellation Pisces.

Small telescope: Cave Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

The Cave Nebula: A Majestic Emission Nebula in Cepheus — An exploration of the Cave Nebula's characteristics and significance within the celestial tapestry of Cepheus.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 30.6° below the horizon. Rises 08:42; sets 18:04 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.2. The disk is 78.4% illuminated (gibbous). It is 22.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.306° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zubenelgenubi, 4.2° away. Mars is 2.0° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 14:57 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Oct 20 06:51 UTC. Mercury: 4.2° from Zubenelgenubi in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 04:53; sets 16:48 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 94.4% illuminated (gibbous). It is 19.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.244° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 10.1° away. Moon is 4.3° away at the snapshot. Venus: 10.1° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 05:14; sets 16:35 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -5.6. The disk is 2.2% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 16.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 12.104° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 12.9° away. Venus is 4.3° away at the snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Oct 21 12:25 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 14:57 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 10:55 UTC. Moon: 12.9° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 28.9° below the horizon. Rises 08:37; sets 18:15 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.5. The disk is 98.4% illuminated (gibbous). It is 22.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.701° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zubenelgenubi, 3.6° away. Mercury is 2.0° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Oct 23 10:55 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Oct 20 06:51 UTC. Mars: 3.6° from Zubenelgenubi in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 12.6° below the horizon. Rises 22:29; sets 13:41 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.2. The disk is 99.1% illuminated (nearly full). It is 92.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.072° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 6.7° away. Jupiter: 6.7° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 38.6° above the horizon. Rises 16:23; sets 03:59 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 149.5° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.061° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.7° away. Neptune is 3.8° away at the snapshot. Saturn: 13.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 21.9° above the horizon. Rises 18:45; sets 09:44 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 146.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.033° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 10.8° away. Uranus: 10.8° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 40.1° above the horizon. Rises 16:25; sets 04:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 153.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.024° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 15.2° away. Saturn is 3.8° away at the snapshot. Neptune: 15.2° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 27.2° above the horizon. Rises 17:47; sets 04:23 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 99.5% illuminated (nearly full). It is 154.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.191° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 6.9° away. Ceres: 6.9° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 14.2° above the horizon. Rises 14:18; sets 22:58 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 94.5° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.003° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.9° away. Pluto: 8.9° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.