Stargazing in Zion in October & the Lunar Cycles

October 1st is the “International Observe the Moon Night”. So, let’s chat about our steadfast companion the Moon a little and ask ourselves: how well do you know something that you see almost every day and night throughout the month? Stargazing in Zion in October is a treat and since the first of October is “International Observe the Moon Night”, we wanted to focus on the moon phases and learn more about the moon this month!

Looking ahead at 2025, "International Observe the Moon Night" will fall on October 4, 2025, so make sure to mark your calendars!

Moon Phases

Let’s start with the simplest of lunar observations: the moon phases. As the Moon orbits the Earth in 29.5 days, the angle of sunlight hitting the near side waxes (increases) or wanes decreases. When the Moon is in the new moon phases it is between the Sun and the Earth, and you cannot see it. That is the official start to the lunar month. When the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun and the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky (the moon rises when the Sun sets), then we have a Full Moon. In between we first and last (or third) quarter Moons when we see the Moon half full. Peek below to help imagine the monthly moves:

Moon phases and the moon the Moon’s position throughout the month. Credit: Starry Night.

One of the best ways to learn about the Moon phases is to keep a Moon journal throughout the month and jot down your observations. After that, you’ll be a lunatic, a lunar expert.

One of the Greatest Misconceptions About the Moon

Full Moon’s don’t make werewolves. Ok, that’s a joke, they don’t exist but what also does not exist is the dark side of the Moon (thanks Pink Floyd for confusing A GENERATION of people). We always see the same side of the Moon, which is called the near side. That can either be the day side (full Moon) or night side (new Moon). If you look at the image above then during the new Moon phases the side that we do not see, the far side, is the day side and illuminated and DEFINITELY not in the dark. Correct? Now, the Moon is considered “tidally locked” which means its orbital period matches its rotational period. So, the Moon orbits the Earth once a month but also rotates on its axis once a month! If you don’t believe us, get one of your kids or grandkids and play Earth and Moon together. We did this once to convince a grandpa and after we did, he fell out of the sky (pun intended) and said he has to go tell his coworkers on Monday! He was so excited and that’s why we love what we do.

Here is the Moon through the eyepiece of one of our telescopes.

Here is the Moon through one of our telescopes with a camera.

And here is the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. There will be one coming up on November 8th this year which can be observed in the US but you gotta be up after midnight.

If you want to gorge on more lunar stuff, like the names for the different full Moons or actually see the far side, you can visit the Royal Greenwich Observatory, where Newton was the Astronomer Royal or go to our friends at NASA, who put a man on the moon in 1969. Lastly, NASA wants to put a woman and a person of color on the Moon by 2024 with the Artemis Mission so keep looking up at our natural satellite!

Stargazing in Zion in October

The Night Sky in Zion during Fall

Night Sky around 10 PM on October 15. Source: Stellarium

The Big Dipper continues to dip in the evenings in the North. For our latitude, it is barely grazing the horizon. The Little Dipper keeps pouring water into the Big Dipper only for the BD to pour it out over us in April for April Showers! If you look towards the West the core of the Milky Way next to the spout of the Teapot (Sagittarius) continues to move out of the sky. It was a glorious season, and we can’t wait to have you back next year. But there is plenty of the Milky Way to see still! In the East Taurus the Bull continues to rise together with the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters (Subaru in Japanese). If you wait long enough, you’ll be able to glimpse Mars. Aldebaran, an orange giant, is the eye of Taurus and you can’t miss it if you find the belt of Orion and follow the three stars. We’ll talk about Orion next month!

Planets in October in Zion

Saturn and Jupiter continue to move through the Southern sky as the month and Autumn progress. We still are in awe every time we see them in the telescope. Mars will be viewable in the later evening hours in the constellation Taurus, next to its horns. Mercury can be seen in the early morning hours. We must wait for Venus until December to appear in the evening again.

The Draconid Meteor Shower in October

The Draconid Meteor Shower is a unique celestial event that peaks in early October, typically around the 7th to 9th, making it a fantastic spectacle for stargazing in Zion. Unlike most meteor showers that are best viewed in the early morning, the Draconids are an evening shower, meaning you can witness these mesmerizing “shooting stars” just after nightfall. Originating from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, the Draconids can be unpredictable, with some years producing only a few meteors per hour and others surprising viewers with dazzling outbursts. With Zion’s dark skies and minimal light pollution, this is one of the best places to experience the Draconids in all their glory. For the best viewing experience, find a secluded spot away from artificial lights, and let the Zion night sky put on an unforgettable show. Want expert guidance and high-powered telescopes? Book a stargazing tour with Stargazing Zion and experience the Draconid Meteor Shower like never before!

Join us Stargazing in Utah this Fall!

October is one of the best months for stargazing in Zion, with cooler temperatures, crisp autumn air, and exceptionally clear skies. The fall season brings some of the best celestial events, including the Orionid Meteor Shower, which peaks around October 21st, and stunning views of the Milky Way as it stretches across the sky. With fewer crowds in the park, autumn offers a peaceful and immersive stargazing experience. Don't miss your chance to witness the wonders of the universe—book a fall stargazing tour with Stargazing Zion today and experience the beauty of Zion’s night skies in the heart of autumn!