Constellations by month

Constellations of October

The seven constellations at their best in October are Aquarius, Cepheus, Grus, Lacerta, Octans, Pegasus and Piscis Austrinus. The charts show the whole sky at 9 pm on October 15 from 40°N and 35°S. The Orionids and October Draconids peak this month.

The sky at 9 pm in mid-October from 40°N PEGASUS AQUARIUS CEPHEUS GRUS PISCIS AUSTRINUS LACERTA CETUS HERCULES DRACO OPHIUCHUS PISCES CYGNUS TAURUS CAMELOPARDALIS ANDROMEDA AURIGA AQUILA SERPENS PERSEUS CASSIOPEIA SCULPTOR ARIES CAPRICORNUS LYRA VULPECULA URSA MINOR MICROSCOPIUM DELPHINUS CORONA BOREALIS TRIANGULUM SCUTUM SAGITTA N S E W
From 40°N (the United States, southern Europe, northern China, Japan). North at top; turn the chart so the direction you face is at the bottom.
The sky at 9 pm in mid-October from 35°S PEGASUS AQUARIUS GRUS OCTANS PISCIS AUSTRINUS LACERTA CETUS ERIDANUS PISCES SAGITTARIUS ANDROMEDA AQUILA SERPENS SCORPIUS CARINA SCULPTOR PHOENIX ARIES CAPRICORNUS FORNAX PAVO TUCANA INDUS COLUMBA VULPECULA HOROLOGIUM HYDRUS ARA APUS DELPHINUS DORADO NORMA MENSA VOLANS MUSCA TRIANGULUM CORONA AUSTRALIS CAELUM RETICULUM SCUTUM CIRCINUS SAGITTA CRUX S N W E
From 35°S (Sydney, Cape Town, Buenos Aires). South at top; the center is overhead and the rim is the horizon.

Bright lines and names: constellations at their best in October. Gold dashes: the ecliptic, where the Moon and planets travel. 9 pm local standard time on October 15; the same view comes an hour earlier at the end of the month and an hour later at the start. Click a name to open its chart.

Aquarius, Cepheus, Grus, Lacerta, Octans, Pegasus and Piscis Austrinus are at their best in October

A constellation is at its best when it stands highest in the evening, due south from the northern hemisphere or due north from the southern. The last two columns give its height above the horizon at 9 pm in mid-October.

ConstellationMeaningHemisphereBrightest starMessierAt 40°NAt 35°S
AquariusWater BearerSouthernSadalsuud345°60°
CepheusKing of EthiopiaNorthernAlderamin59°below horizon
GrusCraneSouthernAlnair8°83°
LacertaLizardNorthernAlpha Lacertae83°8°
OctansOctantSouthernNu Octanisbelow horizon43°
PegasusWinged HorseNorthernEnif166°39°
Piscis AustrinusSouthern FishSouthernFomalhaut21°82°

Constellations more than 20° high at 9 pm in October

Measured at the center of each constellation. Large constellations can be partly visible when their center is lower.

From 40°N: 26 constellations

From 35°S: 40 constellations

Meteor showers peaking in October

Rates are the zenithal hourly rate, the count one observer would see under a dark sky with the radiant overhead; real counts are lower. Peak dates move by about a day from year to year.

ShowerPeakActiveRate per hourRadiantParent body
OrionidsOct 21Oct 2 - Nov 720Orion1P/Halley
October DraconidsOct 9Oct 6 - Oct 105Draco21P/Giacobini-Zinner
October CamelopardalidsOct 6Oct 5 - Oct 65Camelopardalis
epsilon GeminidsOct 18Oct 14 - Oct 273Gemini
Leonis MinoridsOct 24Oct 19 - Oct 272Leo MinorC/1739 K1 (Zanotti)
Northern October delta ArietidsOct 15Aries

Video: October stargazing

October Stargazing: Constellations & Meteor Showers · Watch on YouTube

Constellations month by month

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