Night Sky News for October 2026 (middle latitudes, Northern Hemisphere)
Our late summer favorite, which is observing the southern sky section of the Milky Way, is setting in the West during early evenings. However, the Milky Way farther north is nearly overhead, and it is a wonderful target for binoculars or a small telescope.
There are plenty of prominent objects and beautiful star patterns in the region of the constellation Cygnus (often called the Northern Cross) which is in the Milky Way band and almost directly overhead from mid-northern latitudes in the early evening. Cygnus is flanked to the East by a bright star named Altair and to the west by a brighter star, named Vega. So, the center of the overhead sky has plenty to see and enjoy. Further north and east is Cassiopia. It’s brightest three stars make an arrow that points to the Andromeda galaxy that is rising in the east. It is the best naked-eye view of a galaxy that is outside our own. On a dark night with no interfering city lights or a moon, you can see it with your eyes.
Remember Psalm 19. The heavens declare the glory of God — even without huge and expensive instruments. The ancients would have recognized the area we are talking about. Try to get outside at least an hour after sunset on a clear night to enjoy the sights. Even our friends in the Philippines can see the same portion of sky. It will be a little further south than where you see it.
