Sky Chart For The Month of October, 2017

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR OCTOBER 2017

The Moon

Full Moon occurs on 6^that h. 0-10 I.S.T.	Last Quarter occurs on 12^th at h. 17-55 I.S.T.
New Moon occurs on 20^th at h. 0-42 I.S.T.	First Quarter occurs on 28^that h. 3-52 I.S.T.

The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 21^st.
The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 9^th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 25^th.

The Moon passes about ½º south of Neptune in the evening of 3^rd, about 4º south of Uranus before midnight of 6^th, about 2º north of Mars on 17^th, 2º north of Venus on 18^th, about 4º north of Jupiter & about 5º north of Mercury on 20^th, about 3½ º north of Saturn on 24^th and about 1º south of Neptune on 31^st .

The Planets

Visibility of Planets

Mercury: The planet is too close to the Sun to be visible throughout the month, being in Superior Conjunction with the Sun on 9^th. The planet is in Aphelion position or farthest from the Sun on 29^th.

Venus: The planet is a brilliant object visible in the eastern sky, rises about 2 hours to 1½ hours before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. The planet is in Perihelion position or nearest to the Sun on 3^rd.

Mars: The planet rises before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it upto second quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 2½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.The planet is in Aphelion position or farthest from the Sun on 8^th.

Jupiter: The planet is visible in the western sky and sets about 1 hour after sunset upto 12^th of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 26^th.

Saturn: The planet sets before local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 2 hours to 3 hours before it upto second quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 3½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 3½ hours to 4 hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Uranus: The planet rises about 1 hour to ½ hour after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about ½ hour after sunset to close to sunset time upto 3^rd quarter of the month. Thereafter it sets from close to sunrise time to about 1 hour before it for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Opposition with respect to the Sun on 19^th.

Neptune: The planet sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 3½ hours to 3 hours after it upto first quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planets

Venus passes very close to Mars on 5^th.

Mercury passes about 3º north of Spica (Chitra) on 13^th.

Mercury passes 1º south of Jupiter on 18^th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Virgo (Kanya) to Libra (Tula) on13^th.	-1.3 to -1.7 -1.7 to -0.4
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Leo (Simha) to Virgo (Kanya) on 9^th.	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Moves from Leo (Simha) to Virgo (Kanya) on 13^th.	+1.8
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Libra (Tula).	-1.7
Saturn (Sani)	Moves from Scorpion (Vrischika) to Sagittarius (Dhanus) on 26^th.	+0.5
Uranus	Remains in Aries (Mesha).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700091