The Sky Today on Thursday, October 23: The Moon visits Mars and Mercury

A delicate Moon hangs near Mars and Mercury in the sky just after sunset. If you’ve got a clear southwestern horizon, take in the view.
By | Published: October 23, 2025

Catch the Moon near Mercury and Mars just after sunset this evening — although you’ll need to be quick, as they are already setting and close to the horizon. Credit: Stellarium/USGS/Celestia/Clementine
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • On October 22, the Moon will achieve two close conjunctions, passing 5° south of Mars and 2° south of Mercury, before reaching its orbital apogee at 406,445 km (252,553 miles) from Earth.
  • Observers with an unobstructed southwestern horizon can attempt to view the Moon, Mercury, and Mars as a low-lying triplet approximately 3° above the horizon just after sunset.
  • Mercury, shining at magnitude –0.2, will be identifiable with binoculars (4.5° west of the Moon) and will exhibit a 73-percent-illuminated disk spanning 6 arcseconds via telescope.
  • Mars, at magnitude 1.4, will require optical aid for optimal viewing (3° west of Mercury), appearing as a 4-arcsecond, virtually fully illuminated disk, with the Moon simultaneously in a 6% waxing crescent phase.
Key takeaways sponsored by The Space Store

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. 

October 22: Check out the California Nebula

The Moon passes 5° south of Mars at 9 A.M. EDT, then skims 2° south of Mercury at noon EDT. This evening, our satellite reaches apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, at 7:30 P.M. EDT. At that time, it will sit 252,553 miles (406,445 km) away. 

If you’re quick and have a clear southwestern horizon, you can try catching the trio just after sunset. Half an hour after sunset, they are only 3° high in the southwest. The Moon is lowest, with brighter Mercury to its upper right, and fainter Mars to Mercury’s upper right.

At magnitude –0.2, Mercury should be one of the first points of light to appear in the deepening twilight. If you can’t see it by eye it should be easy to identify in binoculars, about 4.5° west of the Moon. Through a telescope, the small planet shows off a 73-percent-lit disk that is 6” wide. 

Mars is magnitude 1.4 — much fainter and better observed with optical aid. You can locate it 3° west of Mercury, farther along the same line connecting Mercury and the Moon. Mars’ disk appears 4” wide and is virtually fully lit.

Sunrise: 7:20 A.M.
Sunset: 6:08 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:34 A.M. 
Moonset: 6:57 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (6%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 10 P.M. local time from the same location.

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