After the wonderfully rich views of the southern winter, October night skies look rather empty – with the exception of the bright planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. However, this does not mean there is nothing else to see.

Two of the celestial showpieces of the southern skies are on show this month: the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These galaxies lie relatively close to the Milky Way. The irregular galaxy known as the Small Magellanic Cloud sits in the constellation Tucana and can be seen with the unaided eye. It stretches roughly seven times the moon’s apparent diameter across the sky. The Large Magellanic Cloud is also visible to the naked eye and is a magnificent sight on the Dorado-Mensa border. Binoculars or small telescopes reveal many star clusters and patches of nebulosity within the LMC.

This month’s conjunctions, which is when two astronomical objects appear close to each other in the sky, include the moon and Saturn on October 6, the moon and Jupiter on October 14, the moon and Venus on October 20, Mercury and Mars on October 21, the moon and Mars on October 23, and the moon and Mercury on October 24.

Also occurring is the annual Orionid meteor shower. Orionids are active every year in October, this year peaking on the night of October 21-22 when potentially up to 20 meteors will be visible every hour. Orionids are named after Orion, because the meteors seem to emerge or radiate from the same area of the sky as the constellation. No special equipment or a lot of skill is required to view a meteor shower; all you really need is a clear sky and lots of patience. For optimum viewing, find a secluded spot away from the city lights. Once you have found your viewing spot, make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long – meteor watching can be a waiting game.

By Nerida Langcake
This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of the Mornington Peninsula Magazine.