Sky Report

October, 2025

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between October 1 and October 31, 2025. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury sets in the west at 7:11 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun sets at 6:37 p.m., PDT. The planet is 93-percent illuminated and 4.9 arcseconds wide.  On the 31^st, the sun sets at 6:01 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets in the west-southwest at 7:05 p.m., PDT, one hour four minutes later. Mercury’s disk is 61-percent illuminated and 6.8 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 150x is needed to see its disk. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus rises in the east at 4:55 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun rises at 6:48 a.m., PDT. The planet is 91-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide. On the 31^st, Venus rises in the east at 5:54 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 7:12 a.m., PDT, one hour 18 minutes later. The planet is 96-percent illuminated and ten arcseconds wide. A small telescope will show the disk with a magnification of 100x.

Mars sets in the west-southwest at 7:51 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 4^th, the planet crosses from Virgo the Maiden into Libra the Scales. On the 31^st, Mars sets at 6:58 p.m., PDT, 57 minutes after the sun sets. Mars is 99-percent illuminated and 4.0 arcseconds wide and is too small to reveal details on its disk

Jupiter, on the 1^st, rises in the east-northeast at 12:44 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, the planet rises at 10:54 p.m., PDT. Jupiter is 40 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn, on the 1^st, rises in the east at 6:11 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Saturn sets in the west at 3:54 a.m., PDT. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus, on the 1^st, rises in the east-northeast at 9:05 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Uranus rises at 7:04 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 55^m 3^s and declination +20° 7ʹ 26ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.8-arcsecond disk.

Neptune, on the 1^st, rises in the east at 6:14 p.m., PDT, and the sun sets at 6:37 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Neptune sets due west at 4:14 a.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 2^m 51^s and declination -1° 11ʹ 17ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

Full moon is on the 6^th, last quarter on the 13^th, new moon on the 21^st, and first quarter on the 29^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Orionid meteor shower is active from October 2^nd to November 7^th. The Orionids produce 10 to 20 shower members at maximum. The radiant is in the constellation Orion the Hunter. The parent object is the famous comet 1P/Halley. The peak is on the night of October 20 to 21. The new moon will not interfere with observations.

In the major lunar standstill of 2024-2025, the October northernmost moon rises in waning gibbous phase on the 11^th at 9:59 p.m., PDT, and sets on the 12^th at 1:27 p.m., PDT. Griffith Observatory will livestream broadcast this northernmost moonrise from Chimney Rock, Colorado, on October 11 and October 12. The October southernmost moon rises as a waxing crescent at 12:03 p.m., PDT, on the 26^th and sets at 9:31 p.m., PDT. Griffith Observatory may broadcast this southernmost moonset. For details on the major lunar standstill, please visit the website at https://griffithobservatory.org/extreme-moon-the-major-lunar-standstills-of-2024-2025/

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October 1st to the 5th shows the Moon waxing which means more of its surface is illuminated. The Full Moon on the 6th ends this cycle. Starting from the 7th on, the Moon is waning. The First Quarter is on the 29th, and the Last Quarter is on the 13th. October 21st marks the New Moon.

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