If you want an easy target this week, start with Saturn.

For Simi Valley, Saturn is the best evening planet right now. It rises around sunset and remains visible for most of the night, making it much easier to catch than the planets clustered in the early-morning sky.

Timeanddate currently rates Saturn’s visibility from Simi Valley as excellent. Time and Date

Look toward the southeastern sky after dark, then follow Saturn higher as the night progresses. To the naked eye it will look like a steady yellowish point of light. A small telescope is needed to see the rings clearly.

Before Dawn: Jupiter and Mars

Early risers have two more planets to look for.

Jupiter rises in the early morning hours and is the brighter and easier of the two to identify. Mars rises somewhat earlier and appears reddish-orange. Both are best viewed in the hours before sunrise, when the sky is still dark. Time and Date

Venus and Mercury are also technically in the sky this month, but for Northern Hemisphere observers they are currently very low and difficult to see around sunset, so they are not the best targets for casual skywatching this week. EarthSky

The Moon Has a Busy Week Too

On October 15 and 16, look west shortly after sunset for the waxing crescent Moon near Antares, the reddish star known as the heart of Scorpius. EarthSky

On October 18, the Moon reaches first quarter, appearing roughly half illuminated and sitting high in the evening sky around sunset. EarthSky

Then on October 19 and 20, the waxing gibbous Moon moves through the stars of Capricornus and remains visible into the night. EarthSky

A Simple Viewing Tip

You do not need special equipment for any of these targets.

Find the darkest spot you reasonably can, give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adjust, and avoid looking at your phone screen while you are trying to see fainter stars.

Binoculars can help with star fields, while a small telescope will reveal much more detail on Saturn.

This Week’s Best Bets

Evening: Saturn
Before dawn: Jupiter and Mars
Oct. 15–16: Moon near Antares
Oct. 18: First-quarter Moon
Oct. 19–20: Moon near Capricornus

For exact rise and set times from Simi Valley, Timeanddate’s local astronomy page is the best quick reference.

Time and Date

Simi Valley astronomy and planet visibilityEarthSky October night-sky guide