In this page, we describe the positions and motions of the planets, and any visible comets and asteroids for this month.
We hope that this information will help you locate these objects easily, and track their motion with time.
For reference, we describe the constellations (and the Indian names of nakshatras) in which the planets are, as well as when they cross from one constellation to the other. This is for your convenience. We also try to provide the Indian names of these objects, as an illustration of how many cultures have studied and systematically categorised the stars in the sky.
As we well know, these constellation boundaries and nakshatras are arbitrary and have no special significance whatsoever. Hence, as is obvious, the constellation in which a planet is, or is moving to, has no special meaning for us beyond being just a way to locate them easily in the night sky.
How to locate our solar system neighbours during October 2014
This month month begins with first quarter moon. That is as the sun sets, we will have nearly half illuminated Moon near the meridian.
Mercury (Budha) is in Virgo, the Virgin (Kanya) and remains in this constellation all through the month. It is in inferior conjunction with the Sun on Oct 16.
Venus (Shukra) too is in Virgo, the Virgin (Kanya) and moves to Libra, the Scale (Tula) on 30th Oct. Venus is in superior conjunction with the Sun on Oct 25.
It may be noted that the Sun too is in is in Virgo and thus it would be difficult to locate both these inner planets. However Mercury is to the east of the Sun and Venus to its left and both are moving in opposite direction. By next moth we should be able to spot Venus above the western horizon after sunset and Mercury above the eastern horizon before sunrise.
Mars (Mangal) remains in Leo, the Lion this month. It passes within less than a degree from Regulus (Magha) on Oct 15.
Jupiter (Guru) continues to remains in Gemini, the Twins (Mithuna).
Saturn (Shani) to continues remains in Virgo, the Virgin (Kanya) this month too.
The Sun remain in Virgo, the Virgin (Kanya) most of this month and moves to Libra, the Scale on 31st Oct.
Meteor Showers — Draconids peak on 8th of October but would be badly affected by the moonlight. This shower is due to come 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
Comets – Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring is likely to be just about bright to be seen with a pair of binoculars. On 20th of Oct it is just about a minute of arc from Mars. The map below gives position in the sky.
Phases of the Moon (timings in IST hh:mm) to help you plan your observing programme
First quarter: 02-Oct 01:02
Full moon: 08-Oct 16:20
Last quarter: 16-Oct 00:47
New moon: 24-Oct 03:26
First quarter: 31-Oct 08:18
Diary of Astronomical Phenomena 2014
The time given below are in UT
IST = UT+5h 30m
This list of astronomical phenomena is generated using Occult V4.0.9
by David Herald of International Occultation Timing Association.
October
d h d h
1 19 FIRST QUARTER 18 0 Jupiter 5.2N of Moon
1 23 Pluto 2.8S of Moon 18 5 Moon at apogee
4 14 Mercury stationary 18 23 Regulus 4.4N of Moon
5 17 Neptune 4.4S of Moon 19 2 Venus 3.2N of Spica
6 9 Moon at perigee 22 21 Mercury 0.6N of Moon
7 20 Uranus at opposition 23 9 Spica 2.5S of Moon
8 9 Uranus 1.2S of Moon 23 21 NEW MOON Eclipse
8 10 FULL MOON 23 21 Venus 0.1N of Moon
12 10 Aldebaran 1.4S of Moon 25 7 Mercury stationary
13 13 Moon furthest North (18.5) 25 7 Venus superior conjunction
15 19 LAST QUARTER 25 16 Saturn 0.9S of Moon
16 8 Mercury 0.4N of Spica 28 0 Moon furthest South (-18.6)
16 21 Mercury inferior conjunction 29 5 Pluto 2.9S of Moon
17 18 Mercury 2.4S of Venus 31 2 FIRST QUARTER
November
d h d h
1 20 Mercury greatest elong W(19) 16 10 Neptune stationary
2 0 Neptune 4.4S of Moon 18 8 Saturn at conjunction
2 23 Moon at perigee 19 18 Spica 2.6S of Moon
4 14 Mercury 4.2N of Spica 21 18 Mercury 1.9S of Moon
4 17 Uranus 1.2S of Moon 22 5 Saturn 1.2S of Moon
6 22 FULL MOON 22 12 NEW MOON
8 19 Aldebaran 1.5S of Moon 23 2 Venus 3.9S of Moon
9 23 Moon furthest North (18.6) 24 8 Moon furthest South (-18.6)
10 23 Mars 3.7S of Pluto 24 17 Venus 4.5N of Antares
13 1 Venus 1.5S of Saturn 25 12 Pluto 2.8S of Moon
14 14 Jupiter 5.0N of Moon 26 2 Mercury 1.6S of Saturn
14 15 LAST QUARTER 27 23 Moon at perigee
15 1 Moon at apogee 29 6 Neptune 4.2S of Moon
15 7 Regulus 4.4N of Moon 29 10 FIRST QUARTER
December
d h d h
1 23 Uranus 1.1S of Moon Occn 20 21 Venus 3.2S of Pluto
4 10 Mercury 3.9N of Antares 21 18 Moon furthest South (-18.7)
6 4 Aldebaran 1.4S of Moon 21 22 Solstice
6 12 FULL MOON 22 1 NEW MOON
7 9 Moon furthest North (18.7) 22 6 Uranus stationary
8 9 Mercury superior conjunction 22 22 Pluto 2.8S of Moon
9 6 Jupiter stationary 24 17 Moon at perigee
12 0 Jupiter 4.9N of Moon 25 4 Mars 5.6S of Moon
12 15 Regulus 4.2N of Moon 25 6 Mercury 4.3S of Pluto
12 22 Moon at apogee 26 12 Neptune 4.0S of Moon
14 12 LAST QUARTER 28 18 FIRST QUARTER
17 3 Spica 2.7S of Moon 29 4 Uranus 0.9S of Moon
19 21 Saturn 1.5S of Moon