Look to the southeast after dark on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week to see two of the most beautiful objects in the solar system shining close together.
A waxing gibbous moon will become obvious as soon as the sun sets, but you’ll need to wait about 30 minutes for the golden glow of Saturn to appear. They’ll shine together all week, getting closest on Saturday night. Here’s everything you need to know.
Where And When To Look
The close encounter — with the moon and Saturn just 3.7 degrees apart — will be most easily seen in the southeast after dark.
- Friday, Oct. 31 (Halloween): 73%-lit waxing gibbous moon to the right of Saturn. The bright “fall star” Fomalhaut will shine below the moon, closer to the southeast horizon.
- Saturday, Nov. 1: 83%-lit waxing gibbous moon to the right of Saturn — but just 3.7 degrees away.
- Sunday, Nov. 2: 91%-lit waxing gibbous moon to the left of Saturn.
As the night wears on, both the moon and Saturn will climb high above the south and sink in the west before dawn.
Observing Tips
No special equipment is needed, but for a really good look at both, you’ll need some optical help. A good pair of 10×50 binoculars (or similar) will help you get a spectacular close-up of the moon. Any small telescope will get you a glimpse of Saturn and its rings, though a 5-inch (or larger) aperture refractor will get you the best view.
Note that in 2025, we see Saturn’s rings nearly edge-on as a result of the planet’s tilt and position in its orbit. Saturn is declining in brightness after its annual opposition on Sept. 21, when it was at its biggest, brightest and best for telescopic viewing. However, it’s still prominent in the post-sunset night sky.
Neptune — the eighth planet from the sun — is just to Saturn’s left, but it is too dim to see with the naked eye, requiring a large telescope to observe.
What’s Next In The Night Sky
Saturn’s dance with the moon is one of the final highlights of October’s stargazing calendar. November kicks off with fireballs from the Southern Taurids on Nov. 3 and the biggest supermoon in six years on November 5-6. After that come the swift Leonid meteors peaking on November 16-17, promising up to 15 “shooting stars” an hour under dark skies. November will end with Mercury’s best pre-sunrise show of the year on Nov. 30.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
