Sky Today: October 27 Even with a bright Moon in the sky, you can easily trace this “waterfall” of stars to its end in the spray of open cluster NGC 1502. Image Credit: Weike Pan (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED) Read more: vist.ly/5q5eg

Today in the history of astronomy, Cassini makes a historic flyby of Saturn’s moon. vist.ly/5q3eb

Sky Today: October 26 October’s bright Full Moon offers an excellent observing target, allowing you to trace the rays thrown out by ancient impacts. Image Credit: VinceFL (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Read more: vist.ly/5py9y

Sky Today: October 25 Dione and its shadow cross Saturn’s disk this evening, while several more of the ringed planet’s moons stand nearby. Image Credit: Stellarium/Oleg Pluton Read more: vist.ly/5pvd2

This small martian satellite, the mission target for MMX, is destined to be shredded, changing the Red Planet forever. vist.ly/5ptck

Sky Today: October 24 Mercury ends its prograde motion and prepares to enter retrograde in Libra the Balance — spot it after sunset if you’re quick. Image Credit: Stellarium Read more: vist.ly/5psgi

Today in the history of astronomy, the first person to propose the Oort Cloud is born. vist.ly/5pqw9

Sky This Week: October 23 to 30 Mercury reverses course, Dione transits Saturn, and a bright Full Hunter’s Moon shines in the sky this week. Image credit: Craig ONeal (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Read more: vist.ly/5pmhu

The Sky Today on Friday, October 23: Nab Neptune near the Moon vist.ly/5pmh5 The solar system’s most distant planet shares the sky with the nearly Full Moon this evening, with Saturn standing nearby. Image: ASY-SM1026_08 Image Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Today in the history of astronomy, the first known record of a solar eclipse is made. vist.ly/5pjjg

Sky Today: October 22 Saturn’s two-toned moon Iapetus is now passing south of the ringed planet, making this satellite easier than usual to find. Image Credit: Stellarium/Oleg Pluton Read more: vist.ly/5pfye

Today in the history of astronomy, the historic observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, opens its doors. vist.ly/5pc8c

Learn the basics of the celestial coordinate system, like right ascension and declination, for accurate stargazing. vist.ly/5pb24

Sky Today: October 21 The Orionid meteor shower peaks today, offering a good chunk of Moon-free observing in the hours before dawn. Image Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly Read more: vist.ly/5papx

Colorful outflows from young protostars in Orion the Hunter plunge into the thick dust of a molecular cloud in this new infrared image. vist.ly/5p8vw

Today in the history of astronomy, a mission to the understudied planet Mercury kicks off. vist.ly/5p6pp

Sky Today: October 20 The biggest galaxy in the Deer Lick Group, galaxy NGC 7331 has lots to offer through a telescope, so track it down tonight. Image Credit: Eduardo Martinez (Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Read more: vist.ly/5p5g7

Here's what's launching Oct. 19–25: JAXA launches its Martian Moons eXploration mission from Tanegashima, Rocket Lab returns to New Zealand, and China lines up four launches amid a busy week for SpaceX. vist.ly/5p4bd

Today in the history of astronomy, we meet our first interstellar visitor. vist.ly/5n2th

Sky Today: October 19 The Southern Fish is home to the bright luminary Fomalhaut, a lovely young star that shines brightly in the evening sky. Image Credit: Stellarium/USGS/Celestia/Clementine Read more: vist.ly/5nycx