This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2026 October 10 – October 17
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2026 October 10 – October 17
With the Square of Pegasus appearing higher in the east after twilight, look under it (or outside the first base line of the diamond) for a circle of fainter stars. This asterism is the Circlet of Pisces which forms the head of one of the two fish that make up this zodiac constellation. The other fish head is to the left of Pegasus. Below left of the Circlet is the Vernal Equinox, the point where the Sun crosses the equator to mark the beginning of our spring season. At times it is still called the First Point of Aries, despite having moved well to the west of the zodiacal ram.
The two fish represent Aphrodite and her son Eros, who tied their ankles together with a cord before leaping into the sea and changing into fish to escape the fearsome monster Typhon. The star where the fishes’ tails meet is called Alrescha, which means “the cord.”
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:29 and sunset will occur at 6:42, giving 11 hours, 13 minutes of daylight (7:33 and 6:47 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:39 and set at 6:29, giving 10 hours, 50 minutes of daylight (7:42 and 6:35 in Saint John).
The Moon is new this Saturday and near Antares on Wednesday. A challenging target very low to the southwest, Mercury is at greatest elongation and near the Moon on Monday. Saturn is at its best for observing in late evening. Mars continues to edge toward Jupiter in the morning sky over the week while both sneak up on Regulus, the heart of Leo the Lion. Venus is too close to the Sun for viewing. Rural observers might see the zodiacal light in the east an hour or two before sunrise.
Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the Facebook page or YouTube site of Astronomy by the Bay. There will be public observing at the Irving Nature Park in Saint John on October 16 from 7 to 10 pm, with a back-up date the following evening,