Look to the southwestern horizon at sundown on Oct. 23 to see the slender type of the crescent moon shine near Mercury and Mars within the night sky.
The 6%-lit waxing crescent moon will likely be seen roughly 5 levels above the horizon because the solar units on Oct. 23, with Mercury showing as an “night star” to the higher proper of its sickle-like kind and the crimson mild of Mars shining simply past, to kind a cosmic lineup within the night sky.
All three worlds will lie inside 10 levels of one another — roughly the width of your clenched fist held at arm’s size in opposition to the night sky — with Mercury and Mars close enough to comfortably share the field of view of a pair of 10×50 binoculars. But remember – even just glancing at the sun with a pair of binoculars can lead to permanent loss of vision. Be sure to use a trusted website like TimeandDate to test sundown instances in your locale and make sure that our guardian star is nicely under the horizon earlier than trying to view the moon beside these planets with a magnifying help.
Celestron NexStar Evolution 925 Computerised Telescope
The Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 is likely one of the greatest telescopes you should purchase. Boasting a 9.25-inch aperture and an entire host of equipment, that is top-of-the-range gear. The distant operability means it’s simple to trace celestial objects out of your cellphone. Add to {that a} highly effective lithium-ion battery, permitting for ten hours of uninterrupted stargazing.
The razor-thin type of the crescent moon will make for a difficult goal to identify in opposition to the glow of the setting solar on Oct. 23, simply two days out from its new moon part on Oct. 21. The moon, Mercury and Mars will set lower than an hour after the solar, so you’ll want to stake out a vantage level with a transparent view of the southwestern horizon to make sure a great view of the photo voltaic system parade.
Stargazers interested in getting a closer look at the wonders of the night sky should check out our roundups of the best telescopes and binoculars available in 2025, while those new to the hobby should read our roundup of the best smartphone astronomy apps for navigating the post sunset realm.
Editor’s Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com’s readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
