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3 Reasons to observe this month

by | Oct 1, 2025 | Uncategorized


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Jupiter

 

 Late in the night of October 13 to 14, Jupiter will shine brightly next to the last quarter Moon. Easy to spot with the naked eye, the planet reveals its secrets as soon as you point a telescope at it: cloud bands become visible, and depending on its rotation, the Great Red Spot may appear.


 That evening, the four main moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto — will be perfectly aligned and visible without using your telescope’s enhanced vision.


 Tip: the quality of planetary observation depends heavily on seeing — the stability of the atmosphere — which changes from night to night and from place to place. Try on several nights to get the sharpest view!

Jupiter: Photo Credit Laurie Ansorge

NGC 6946 – The Fireworks Galaxy

 

 Between the constellations of Cygnus and Cepheus lies NGC 6946, a spiral galaxy nicknamed the “Fireworks Galaxy.”


 In just a century, it has hosted ten supernovae (exploding stars at the end of their life) visible from Earth — an absolute record!


 Its twisted arms, reddish hues, and star-forming regions make it a fascinating but faint target: your telescope will need a bit of time to fully reveal its structure.

 

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NGC 6946: Photo Credit Stuart Fort

Iris Nebula

 

In the constellation Cepheus, the Iris Nebula is a reflection nebula surrounding a young, bright star.


 Its light scatters through a vast cloud of cosmic dust, forming soft outlines tinted with gentle shades of blue.


 This target also requires a bit of patience — with your telescope, its delicately colored “petals” will slowly emerge on screen.

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Iris Nebula: Photo Credit George Ghreichi

See you next month for more reasons to look up!

Happy stargazing with UNISTELLAR.

Further readings

Titan’s shadows

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This summer, the ringed planet Saturn takes centre stage in our night sky, offering amateur astronomers a rare opportunity to observe fascinating transient events.