What is the best smart telescope target in October?

M34 is among the best-placed targets around midnight, and the DWARF mini frames it best.

When are the darkest nights in October?

Around the new moon on 10 October, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.

This month in the sky

The night sky in October 2026

In October 2026 the best-placed deep-sky targets around midnight are M34, M103, M76 Little Dumbbell Nebula. The darkest nights fall around the new moon on 10 October. Planets in the night sky: Mars (morning), Jupiter (morning), Saturn (most of the night).

See what clears your own horizon this month

Moon and darkness

New moon	10 October
Full moon	26 October
Full darkness at 52° N	about 9.5 hours a night

Plan faint galaxies in the week around new moon; bright nebulae and clusters also work near full moon.

Best placed around midnight

Target	Type	Size	Sky needed	Highest at 52° N	Highest at 40° N	Frames it best
M34	open cluster	35′	City-friendly	81°	87°	DWARF mini
M103	open cluster	6′	City-friendly	81°	69°	mosaic or too small
M76 Little Dumbbell Nebula	planetary nebula	2′	City-friendly	90°	78°	mosaic or too small
M77 Cetus A	spiral galaxy	7′	Suburban sky	38°	50°	Odyssey
M33 Triangulum Galaxy	spiral galaxy	71′	Dark sky	69°	81°	Seestar S30 Pro
M74 Phantom Galaxy	spiral galaxy	11′	Dark sky	54°	66°	Odyssey

Already high in the evening

These targets culminate around 22:00 this month: ideal if you do not want to stay up late.

Target	Type	Size	Sky needed	Highest at 52° N	Highest at 40° N	Frames it best
M52	open cluster	13′	City-friendly	80°	68°	Odyssey
M31 Andromeda Galaxy	spiral galaxy	190′	Suburban sky	79°	89°	mosaic or too small
M32	elliptical galaxy	9′	Suburban sky	79°	89°	Odyssey
M110	elliptical galaxy	22′	Dark sky	80°	88°	Seestar S50

Planets

Calculated for the 15th at 52° N: planets at least 10° high while it is dark.

Mars: morning, up to 47° high
Jupiter: morning, up to 37° high
Saturn: most of the night, up to 40° high

Planets are small for smart telescopes; they show as small discs. Deep-sky objects are where these telescopes shine.

Meteor showers

Draconids, peak around 8 October
Orionids, peak around 21 October

Meteors are best seen with your eyes or a wide-angle camera, not through a telescope.

Questions and answers

What is the best smart telescope target in October?: M34 is among the best-placed targets around midnight, and the DWARF mini frames it best.
When are the darkest nights in October?: Around the new moon on 10 October, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.

Calculated with Astronomy Engine for 52° N, 5° E; target data from the Messier catalogue. Dates are UTC.