@skymaps

Publishing The Evening Sky Map since January 2000. A free, easy-to-use 2-page monthly all-sky map & sky calendar of celestial events for sky watchers worldwide.

 Adelaide, Australia
skymaps.com/tesm/
Joined May 2008
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703Media
The Moon will reach apogee (farthest from Earth) at 23h UT (now) on 16 October 2026. At this time the Moon's distance from Earth will be 404,643 km or 251,433 miles and it will span an angular size of 29.5 arc-minutes. 🔭 #stargazing #Moon Oct'26 Events: skymaps.com/sc2610/
A simulated image of the Moon showing its appearance at this time. Credit: NASA.

ALT A simulated image of the Moon showing its appearance at this time. Credit: NASA.

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The planet Mars is currently passing through the Beehive star cluster (aka M44). The celestial event is visible worldwide in the morning sky and makes for a wonderful photo opportunity. 🔭 More sky events: skymaps.com/sc2610/
A telescopic image of Mars appearing like a bright red-orange hued "star" near a loose collection of scattered white stars which are the open star cluster known as the Beehive or Messier 44. Photo taken 2nd May 2025. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis

ALT A telescopic image of Mars appearing like a bright red-orange hued "star" near a loose collection of scattered white stars which are the open star cluster known as the Beehive or Messier 44. Photo taken 2nd May 2025. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis

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10 October: New Moon at 15:49 UT (now). Start of lunation 1284. The next few days are a great time for stargazing. Download The Evening Sky Map (PDF) at skymaps.com/tesm/ and begin exploring the Universe with your eyes, binoculars or a telescope! 🔭 #astronomy #stargazing
The Evening Sky Map is a circular all-sky star chart showing constellations, the Milky Way, planets, horizon directions and deep-sky objects depicted by symbols with an accompanying legend, plus a left-column sky calendar listing lunar and planetary events and viewing times.

ALT The Evening Sky Map is a circular all-sky star chart showing constellations, the Milky Way, planets, horizon directions and deep-sky objects depicted by symbols with an accompanying legend, plus a left-column sky calendar listing lunar and planetary events and viewing times.

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🌘⭐ Over the next few hours on 6-7 Oct'26 the waning crescent Moon will pass near the bright star Regulus -- the brightest star in the constellation Leo (the Lion) -- which is located on the ecliptic ensuring regular encounters with the Moon. 🔭 #stargazing
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The Moon will actually occult (pass in front of) Regulus for sky watchers in western Africa. More info: in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=2…

Lunar occultation of Regulus

6 October 2026: The Moon will pass in front of Regulus (Alpha Leonis), creating a lunar occultation visible from parts of Africa. – In-The-Sky.org.

in-the-sky.org
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Asteroid 2 Pallas reaches opposition at 10h UT (now) on 6 October 2026. The asteroid is currently in the constellation Cetus and is at magnitude 8.2.🔭 #stargazing October sky events: skymaps.com/sc2610/
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The waning crescent Moon is currently near Jupiter (mag. –1.9). The event is visible worldwide in the morning sky. A lunar occultation of Jupiter will be visible from parts of North America and Africa. 🔭 More info: in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=2…

Lunar occultation of Jupiter

6 October 2026: The Moon will pass in front of Jupiter, creating a lunar occultation visible from parts of Africa, the Americas, the Portuguese Azores, Madeira, the Savage Islands and the Canary...

in-the-sky.org
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🌗🌟 Over the next few hours the Moon will pass near Castor and Pollux -- the twins of Greek mythology and the brightest stars in Gemini. Closest approach is at 7h UT and 12h UT on 4 October, respectively. 🔭 #stargazing Sky Myths: skymaps.com/myths/
Antique star chart of the Gemini constellation portraying the mythic twins Castor and Pollux aligned with labeled stars and a grid, one twin holding a lyre and the other a bow, with the name "GEMINI" visible. Source: Plate 15 (Gemini), A Celestial Atlas, Alexander Jamieson (1822)

ALT Antique star chart of the Gemini constellation portraying the mythic twins Castor and Pollux aligned with labeled stars and a grid, one twin holding a lyre and the other a bow, with the name "GEMINI" visible. Source: Plate 15 (Gemini), A Celestial Atlas, Alexander Jamieson (1822)

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🌗 3 October: Last Quarter Moon at 13:25 UT (now). Last Quarter marks the start of dark moonless evening skies for the next 7 to 10 days. Download a copy of The Evening Sky Map (PDF) from skymaps.com/tesm/ and enjoy an evening under the stars! 🔭 🤩 #stargazing
Lunar face split by a sharp terminator down the center, revealing detailed craters, bright ray systems and dark basaltic maria on the sunlit left side and deep shadowed surface textures on the right. Image source: NASA.

ALT Lunar face split by a sharp terminator down the center, revealing detailed craters, bright ray systems and dark basaltic maria on the sunlit left side and deep shadowed surface textures on the right. Image source: NASA.

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🌖 The waning gibbous Moon reaches perigee (closest to Earth) at 20:47 UT (now) on 1 October 2026. At this time the Moon's geocentric distance will be 369,334 km or 229,494 miles and span an angular diameter of 32.4 arc-minutes. 🔭 #stargazing More events: skymaps.com/sc2610/
A simulated image of the Moon created by NASA. The image shows the waning gibbous Moon as it will appear at perigee (closest to Earth) on 1 October 2026. The lunar surface shows a sharp day-night terminator with detailed craters, dark mare plains, and bright impact rays across the Moon’s near side.

ALT A simulated image of the Moon created by NASA. The image shows the waning gibbous Moon as it will appear at perigee (closest to Earth) on 1 October 2026. The lunar surface shows a sharp day-night terminator with detailed craters, dark mare plains, and bright impact rays across the Moon’s near side.

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The waning gibbous Moon is currently near the Pleiades star cluster (aka The Seven Sisters or M45). Closest approach is at 19h UT on September 30th. Simply look up in the pre-dawn sky to enjoy the best view. 🔭 #stargazing Image taken with an Askar SQA55: skymaps.com/ir0/
A telescopic photograph of the Pleiades star cluster showing many bright white stars with light blue coloured patches of nebulosity surrounding the brighter stars. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis

ALT A telescopic photograph of the Pleiades star cluster showing many bright white stars with light blue coloured patches of nebulosity surrounding the brighter stars. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis

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💫 The October 2026 edition of The Evening Sky Map (PDF) is available for download at skymaps.com/tesm/. It features easy-to-use sky maps for the northern & southern hemispheres, and equatorial regions. Enjoy exploring the night sky! 🔭 #stargazing #space #nightsky
The Evening Sky Map is a circular all-sky star chart showing constellations, the Milky Way, planets, horizon directions and deep-sky objects depicted by symbols with an accompanying legend, plus a left-column sky calendar listing lunar and planetary events and viewing times.

ALT The Evening Sky Map is a circular all-sky star chart showing constellations, the Milky Way, planets, horizon directions and deep-sky objects depicted by symbols with an accompanying legend, plus a left-column sky calendar listing lunar and planetary events and viewing times.

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🌕 The Full Moon occurs at 16:49 UT (now) on 26 September 2026. Step outside this evening and look up to enjoy the view. 🔭 Sept 2026 sky events: skymaps.com/sc2609/ Imaging rig: skymaps.com/ir2/
A detailed telescopic photograph of the Full Moon against a black background. The image exhibits a range of gray tones that emphasize its craters, plains, and other surface features. The image was taken with a Sky-Watcher Maksutov-Newtonian telescope described at: skymaps.com/ir2/ Image Credit: Kym Thalassoudis

ALT A detailed telescopic photograph of the Full Moon against a black background. The image exhibits a range of gray tones that emphasize its craters, plains, and other surface features. The image was taken with a Sky-Watcher Maksutov-Newtonian telescope described at: skymaps.com/ir2/ Image Credit: Kym Thalassoudis

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Mercury 0.9° NNE of Spica at 9h UT(now) on 26 September 2026. The innermost planet is 21° from Sun in the evening sky. Best seen from the southern hemisphere. Mags. −0.1 and 1.0. 🔭 #stargazing
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🌟 Venus will reach peak brightness (mag. -4.56) at 18h UT on 22 Sept'26. Step outside shortly after sunset and enjoy the view of the brilliant "Evening Star" in the western sky. 🔭 #stargazing More events: skymaps.com/sc2609/
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🌓 18 Sept: First Quarter Moon at 20:43 UT (now). The days around First Quarter Moon are a great time to view craters and other lunar features. Use binoculars or, better still, a telescope for some incredible views. 🔭 #stargazing #moon Sky Calendar: skymaps.com/sc2609/
Close-up of the Moon showing its lit upper hemisphere and shadowed lower limb, highlighting large craters, dark lunar maria, and textured cratered terrain along the terminator.

ALT Close-up of the Moon showing its lit upper hemisphere and shadowed lower limb, highlighting large craters, dark lunar maria, and textured cratered terrain along the terminator.

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🌙 🌟 The waxing crescent Moon will pass close to Venus over the next few hours. The beautiful conjunction is visible worldwide soon after sunset on 14 Sept 2026 with closest approach at 12h UT favouring Australia, SE Asia & Japan. 🔭 More Sept. events: skymaps.com/sc2609/
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New Moon occurs at 3:26 UT (now) on 11 September 2026. Start of lunation 1283. 🌟 The next few days are a great time for some evening stargazing. Download The Evening Sky Map (PDF) (skymaps.com/tesm/) and enjoy exploring the Universe! 🔭 #stargazing #space
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🌟 In the next few hours the Moon will pass near Castor and Pollux -- the twins of Greek mythology and the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini. Closest approach occurs at 1h UT and 6h UT on 7 Sept, respectively. 🔭 #stargazing Sky Myth Books: skymaps.com/myths/
Image: Plate 15 (Gemini), A Celestial Atlas, Alexander Jamieson (1822)

ALT Image: Plate 15 (Gemini), A Celestial Atlas, Alexander Jamieson (1822)

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🌒 The Moon will reach perigee (closest to Earth) at 20:44 UT (now) on 6 Sept 2026. At this time the Moon's distance from Earth will be 368,259 km or 228,826 miles and span an angular diameter of 32.4 arc-mins. 🔭 #stargazing #Moon Sept'26 Sky Events: skymaps.com/sc2609/
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