Night time begins earlier within the northern hemisphere in October, and there are a bunch of celestial spectacles for astrophotographers this month. From a rising “Harvest Moon” to a photogenic passing of the moon via the gorgeous Pleiades open cluster, there’s loads to seize within the night time sky. As a bonus, there’s the Orionid meteor bathe on the finish of October, whose ‘taking pictures stars’ have an intriguing story behind them that at all times goes down nicely on social media.
Right here’s every little thing it’s worthwhile to learn about astrophotography in October 2025:
Sunday, October 5: Close to-full Moon and Saturn in conjunction
There’s about to be a giant, vibrant full moon — probably the most well-known of the yr — however there’s a purpose for attempting to catch it the night time earlier than it rises full-lit. Above east in nightfall, the 98%-lit waxing gibbous moon will shine about three levels above Saturn, itself huge and vibrant — comparatively talking — after its opposition final month.
Learn: When to {photograph} the moon.
Monday, October 6: Full Harvest Supermoon rising
The primary “supermoon” of 2025 can also be probably the most well-known. Often, September’s full moon will get the “Harvest Moon” moniker, however since October’s is closest to the equinox, it receives the enduring title this yr. Extra importantly, the moon will rise full within the east simply after sundown within the west (use a moonrise calculator to search out the precise time on your location).
Learn: Find out how to {photograph} the complete moon
Thursday, October 9: Moon and the Pleiades in conjunction
About three hours after sundown at this time, an 87%-lit waning gibbous moon will rise whereas subsequent to the spectacular Pleiades open cluster of stars, additionally referred to as the Seven Sisters. Though it will likely be tempting to picture, the moon’s brightness will overwhelm the picture. It’s in all probability one for binoculars solely.
Learn: Astrophotography: How-to guides, ideas and movies.
Monday, October 13 -Thursday, October 23: Darkish sky window
In case you reside within the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, October is when the dead nights get longer than the hours of daylight, however earlier than it will get actually chilly at night time. The nights may have no vibrant moon to intervene with observations and imaging for round 10 nights from October 13’s 50%-illuminated final quarter moon part via to the crescent moon on October 23.
Learn: Find out how to {photograph} the Milky Manner
Sunday, October 19: A crescent moon, Venus and zodiacal mild
Stand up at the very least an hour earlier than dawn this morning, and also you’ll see, within the jap night time sky, the attractive sight of a 4%-lit waning crescent moon simply 4 levels to the upper-right of super-bright Venus. In case you’re up even earlier, and in a darkish sky vacation spot, it’s a superb morning to seize a triangular glow of sunshine within the east above the place the solar will come up. Termed the “false daybreak,” it’s mirrored daylight from interplanetary mud orbiting the solar alongside the identical airplane because the planets, referred to as zodiacal mild.
Learn: The most effective star tracker digicam mounts
Monday-Tuesday, October 20-21: Orionid meteor bathe peaks
In contrast to August’s Perseids, the height of the Orionid meteor bathe will this yr happen in moonless night time skies. It’s not as prolific — solely about 20 “taking pictures stars” are anticipated every hour in the course of the in a single day peak tonight, which is able to happen within the very early hours of October 21. Meteors will seem to come back from the constellation Orion, although they’ll seem wherever within the sky. One of the simplest ways to {photograph} them is to go away a digicam with a wide-angle lens on a tripod in steady mode, hoping to catch one. Go for 30-second exposures.
Learn: Find out how to {photograph} a meteor bathe
Thursday, October 23: A younger crescent moon with Mercury and Mars
To {photograph} the slimmest doable crescent moon towards the early twilight sky, be someplace with a superb view of the southwestern horizon simply after sundown tonight. Your goal is a 5%-lit crescent moon, with Mercury and Mars to its upper-right.
Learn: The most effective lenses for astrophotography
Friday, October 24: A crescent moon and Antares
Now barely brighter and simpler to see, the nonetheless slim crescent moon may have moved past Mercury and Mars and be larger above the horizon tonight, just under crimson supergiant star Antares. You’ll see “Earthshine” on the darkish area of the moon, one thing wide-angle lenses are inclined to natively decide up. You possibly can attempt for the same shot of “Earthshine” on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, too, earlier than the illuminated a part of the moon grows so vibrant that it drowns out the fragile ‘Earthshine.’
Learn: The most effective cameras for astrophotography
Shot of the month: Orionid meteor bathe
Count on between 10 and 20 ‘taking pictures stars’ from the Orionids meteor bathe’s peak, anticipated within the early hours of Monday, October 21. They’re named after the area of the night time sky the place meteors strike the Earth’s environment every year – the well-known constellation of Orion. Nonetheless, the extra fascinating story behind the Orionids is that they’re produced by mud and particles from Halley’s Comet putting Earth’s environment. It was final within the photo voltaic system in 1986 and can return in 2061.
Since this isn’t a very prolific meteor bathe, it’s one to {photograph} robotically. You solely want a handbook digicam on a tripod, a wide-angle lens, 30-second exposures and an ISO of about 800. Experiment till you get a beautiful, sharp, great-looking picture of the night time sky. Then, use an intervalometer or steady mode and a handbook shutter launch cable in lock mode to take exposures after publicity. You possibly can go away it to do its factor for a lot of hours; Orionid meteors journey super-fast, however with lengthy exposures, it is best to catch one or two. For the reason that Orionids will come from the east, orienting in that path is sensible, although the ‘taking pictures stars’ can seem wherever.
Learn extra:
Astrophotography: How-to guides, ideas and movies
Astrophotography instruments: the perfect digicam, lenses and equipment