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Astronomy, NOW! π Full Moon tomorrow! π
Turn a quick glance into an observing habit with the Stargazer's Guide 2027:
π How the Moonβs phases work
π Navigate 'seas', highlands, craters & mountains
π Observing with binoculars & telescopes
π sbee.link/8uyemd47nk
Happy 25th anniversary at #Mars, NASA Mars Odyssey!Β
We made this milestone the cover story of our October issue, with an inβdepth look at its discoveries, instruments and impact on every mission that followed πsbee.link/ftpghcy9vb or sbee.link/b8nxykwe9g (digital)
WIN A TELESCOPE! π
Thanks to Sky-Watcher we have a Skyliner 200P Flextube (Deluxe edition) to give away!
Entry details in the latest issue of Astronomy Now β get instant access with a digital subscription: sbee.link/tmpegv4wr9
(Contest only available to UK residents)
Astronomy, NOW! πΒ The Orionids #meteor shower peaks this week on 21 OctΒ
Use your naked eyes to take in as much sky as possible & wrap up warm β patience is your best tool!
For tips on getting started, check out our free beginner's guide π sbee.link/tcmkrbwnfj
Astronomy Now retweeted
Jess is as unimpressed as usual... no pleasing her... but I'm extremely chuffed and proud to have major features in both the November issue *and* the 2027 "Stargazers Guide" Yearbook of @AstronomyNow Magazine! (No, I have no idea what J was looking at as I took the pics...)
New to stargazing or just a little lost in the way astronomers refer to the sky?
With dark skies back upon us, Stuart Atkinson (@mars_stu) strips the jargon back to plain English so you can go outside and use these terms (and many more) immediately.
π sbee.link/fprhn3m74g
Explore new wonders of the Universe in your November issue!
πMaster essential terms every stargazer needs to know
πDiscover what may have happened to the asteroid we hit in 2022
πRide along with Voyager as it reaches one light day from Earth
π sbee.link/6pywnjq4a8
How dark is your night sky?
πHow to put your own skies to the test
πDiscover what the results reveal about light pollution
πFind out what you can do to help protect the night β at home or with your local council & other authorities
π sbee.link/vby3taxenp
π’ Poll time! Big weeks ahead for space science news. What are you most excited to follow? Vote below β or tell us know in the comments if something else has your attention.
See thread for dates & source links to follow!
21%MMX launch to Mars moons
36%Bepi reaches Mercury
29%Hera meets Dimorphos
14%Euclid & Gaia data drops
14 votes β’ Final resultsπ°οΈ Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) launch scheduled 19 Oct, includes sample return from Phobos β© global.jaxa.jp/press/2026/08β¦
π°οΈ BepiColombo arrives in orbit 21 Nov 2026; orbiters separate 9-10 Dec; Sunshield release 16 Dec β©
esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imageβ¦
π°οΈ Hera -Arriving at asteroid Dimorphos to discover what happened after Dart's 2022 impact β image unveil 25 Nov β© esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imageβ¦
π°οΈ Euclid (12 Nov) & Gaia's (2 Dec) next major data drops
Euclid β© cosmos.esa.int/web/euclid/tiβ¦
Gaia β© cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/dataβ¦
The Draconids meteors peak tonight!
The radiant sits in Draco the Dragon, high in the northβwest after sunset. The Moon is almost 'new', meaning moonlight interference is minimal.
Bookmark our free online meteor shower calendar so you never miss a peak: sbee.link/nw6fykjemx
On 2 August 2027, a remarkable total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain and Northern Africa, with totality lasting more than 6 minutes!
Plan for an observing trip of a lifetime β our Stargazer's Guide 2027 is on sale now!Β
sbee.link/cbjnwq83hp
Cosmology has a problem.
Different ways of measuring how fast the Universe expands disagree, even as measurements grow more precise. Are astronomers misled by hidden uncertainties, or could it point to a deeper rethink of our cosmic understanding?
π sbee.link/rq4hvktxpa
Double asteroid challenge!
Both Asteroid (2) Pallas and (4) Vesta come to opposition as they track through the constellation Cetus this month. Catch them through binoculars or a small telescope.
More observing tips in the Oct issue of Astronomy Now magazine!
Here's our October #shelfie β reviewed in our latest issue!
π ππ¨π«ππ‘ππ«π§ ππ’π π‘ππ¬ @tomkerss
π ππ§ ππ’π¦π @jimalkhalili
π πππ¦ππ¬ ππππβπ¬ ππ§ππ’ππ§π ππ¨π¬π¦π¨π¬ Maggie Aderin & Sarah Wild
π ππ¨π° ππ¨ πππ¬π’π π§ π ππ§π’π―ππ«π¬π @AstroRoyalScot
π Astronomy, NOW! #Saturn is at opposition on 4 Oct, meaning it lies opposite the Sun in the sky with respect to Earth.Β
Find it near Cetus & Pisces constellations with the naked eye; an 80 mm telescope at 50Γ can show Saturnβs two main rings and large moons.
Congratulations Claudio Pampinella & Filippo Curti for this tremendous two-pane shot capturing the colourful Rho Ophiuchi region and the amazing Blue Horsehead Nebula β it is our magazine's Picture of the Month and cover image across our social channels this month π
Details π
"One of the most alluring aspects of Rho Ophiuchi is the simultaneously illuminated and dark dust clouds that flow from the brighter areas. They display a powerful 3D effect, as if it is floating in front of the more-distant stars" - #Astrophotography expert Nik Szymanek
More expert commentary β and more of your stunning images β in our October issue Gallery! shop.astronomynow.com/producβ¦