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It’s officially World Space Week. This week’s headline event happens before dawn on Tuesday, when a slender crescent moon slides in front of Jupiter for observers across much of eastern and central North America. Even if you’re outside the occultation zone, the moon and the giant planet will appear exceptionally close together, creating one of the year’s finest naked-eye sights. Before that, the moon passes close to Mars and the Beehive Cluster during a week that’s perfect for stargazing. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and the night sky from Monday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 11.

This week’s headline event happens before dawn on Tuesday, when a slender crescent moon slides in front of Jupiter for observers across much of eastern and central North America.

Timeline

Monday, Oct. 5: Moon, Mars And The BeehiveLook east before sunrise to see the 30%-lit waning crescent moon shining just beneath the red planet Mars. Grab any pair of binoculars,, and you’ll also see — just below the moon — dozens of stars in the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: Moon Occults JupiterBefore dawn, the now 20%-lit waning crescent moon meets brilliant Jupiter. Across much of eastern and central North America, the moon briefly passes in front of the giant planet, while elsewhere the pair appears extraordinarily close together. It will be a wonderful naked-eye sight — and an unforgettable telescopic one if you’re within the occultation path.

Thursday, Oct. 8: Draconid Meteor Shower PeaksThe Draconid meteor shower peaks overnight. It’s a notoriously unpredictable display, but it has an advantage — it peaks just after dark. The moon won’t interfere this year, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the northern sky after nightfall, but it’s only expected to produce a handful of meteors per hour.

Saturday, Oct. 10: New MoonThe moon reaches its new phase, bringing beautifully dark skies for the weekend. It’s an excellent opportunity to head somewhere away from city lights and rediscover the Milky Way before winter arrives.

Sunday, Oct. 11: Mars And The BeehiveLook east before sunrise with any pair of binoculars, and you’ll also see Mars as close as it will get to the dozens of stars in the Beehive Cluster.

Saturn from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The ringed planet reached opposition at the weekend, placing it opposite the sun in Earth’s sky and making it brighter, closer and better placed for observing than at any other time in 2026.

Notes For Stargazers

This week reminds us that the night sky isn’t just something to look at after dark. Some of the year’s finest celestial events happen during the hour before sunrise, when the sky is often at its steadiest, and the brightest planets gather in the east. Setting the alarm just once this week could reward you with one of 2026’s most memorable sights — a very rare total eclipse of Jupiter.

Don’t Miss Saturn’s Rings

Have you seen Saturn yet? The ringed planet reached opposition at the weekend, placing it opposite the sun in Earth’s sky and making it brighter, closer and better placed for observing than at any other time in 2026. Since its rings are now opening up again — after appearing almost edge-on last year — it’s a must-see, particularly with any small telescope. Saturn will next come to opposition on Oct. 18, 2027.

Cancer is the faintest constellation of the zodiac.

Constellation of the Week: Cancer

Cancer is the faintest constellation of the zodiac, yet it hides one of the sky’s finest binocular treasures. At its heart lies the Beehive Cluster, a loose swarm of stars more than 500 light-years away that’s easily resolved through binoculars. To the naked eye from a dark location, it appears as a soft, misty patch, but once you find it, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t noticed it before. This week, it’s easy to find, thanks to the prescience of Mars and the moon’s visit on Monday, Oct. 5.

The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium. Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

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