Asteroid 2 Pallas is well placed for an observing attempt on Thursday, October 8, 2026. In the evening, look in central Cetus: at about 10 p.m. local daylight time, Pallas is roughly 5.4° southeast of Eta Ceti and about 19° below Saturn toward the horizon. At magnitude 8.3, it is a binocular or telescope target rather than a naked-eye one. The directions and times below are for 40° N, 90° W; use a local sky chart for your own location.
Where to look for Pallas
For the reference location of 40° N, 90° W, Pallas is visible throughout the night and sits about 20° above the southwestern horizon at 10 p.m. local daylight time. It reaches its highest point around 1 a.m. local daylight time.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
At roughly 10 p.m., find Eta Ceti and look about 5.4° southeast of it for Pallas. Saturn offers another guide: Pallas is a little less than 19° below the planet, toward the horizon. These are approximate, date-specific directions from the reference location, not fixed coordinates.
Recommended Free Tools
What to expect in the eyepiece or image
Astronomy.com’s October 8, 2026 observing guide gives Pallas an apparent magnitude of 8.3. It places the asteroid about one-quarter degree northeast of a nearby magnitude 8.2 field star. Their similar brightness makes the pair a useful reference, but Pallas’s position changes against the background stars.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Excellent Optics】Astronomical telescope features 80mm aperture 600mm(f/6.7) focal length-The big aperture can capture more light; high transmission multi-fully coated optical lens can improve light transmittance, reduce the reflection of light. It will bring you more bright and clear images.
- 【Portable & Stable】Our refractor telescope has a backbag, an adjustable aluminum tripod and an upgraded phone adapter. All accessories can be packed into the bag, which is convenient for you to carry and storage for traveling. The tripod is stable and the height can adjust from 17.7" to 52", which is suitable for adults and kids. With the phone adapter, you can take amazing photos through your phone.
- 【Easy to Operate】 This telescope is easy to assemble even for astronomy beginners and kids. You can set up easily with the detail installation manual and video. No tools are required. It’s a great astronomy gift telescope for adults, astronomy enthusiasts, beginners and kids 8-12.
- 【Optimum Magnification】Our telescope for kids and adults is equipped with two replaceable excellent-quality eyepiecesa (20mm and 9mm) for 30X and 66X magnification. A moon filter transmits only 13 percent of the incoming light and improving contrast. Also with 5x24 finderscope, you can locate objects easily. A great option for astronomy lovers to explore the moon, Saturn and Jupiter.
- 【Satisfaction Service】We provide 3 years satisfaction service. If you have any questions about the product and service, please feel free to contact us to get 24-hour technical support from our expert team. Whether observing moon or viewing planets, our telescope can meet your all needs. It’s a great telescope for adults & 8-12 kids & astronomy beginners.
The guide says Pallas closes the gap by a few arcminutes during the night and that the two objects have swapped sides by the following night. To look for that motion, take photos a few hours apart and compare Pallas’s position relative to the star. The source describes this as an observing idea, not a controlled equipment test.
Binoculars, a telescope, or a camera
Binoculars or a telescope can help you locate this magnitude-8.3 object. A camera may make its movement easier to compare across images. No particular instrument model is required or endorsed by the observing guide; use equipment you already have and a sky chart or planetarium app to identify the field.
Rank #2
- Superior Optics: 400mm(f/5.7) focal length and 70mm aperture, fully coated optics glass lens with high transmission coatings creates stunning images and protect your eyes. Perfect full positive telescope for astronomers to explore stars and moon.
- Magnification: Come with two replaceable eyepieces and one 3x Barlow lens.3x Barlow lens trebles the magnifying power of each eyepiece. 5x24 finder scope with mounting bracket and cross-hair lines inside make locating objects easily.
- Wireless Remote: This refractor telescope includes one smart phone adapter and one Wireless camera remote to explore the nature of the world easily through the screen and take amazing celestial images.
- Adjustable Tripod: This telescope allows for many different viewing positions with a adjustable aluminum alloy tripod and a carry bag, the telescope and tripod can fit inside the bag for easy traveling and storage.
- Satisfaction: Buy with confidence from a leading manufacturer.
Adjust the directions for your location
Clock times and horizon directions vary with location. The 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. timings, as well as the altitude and compass direction, refer to 40° N, 90° W. If you are elsewhere, set a sky chart or planetarium tool to your location and October 8, 2026, then use Eta Ceti and Saturn to orient yourself.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For the same reference location, the guide lists sunrise at 7:03 a.m., sunset at 6:31 p.m., moonrise at 4:53 a.m., and moonset at 5:26 p.m. It gives the waning crescent Moon as 3% illuminated at 10 p.m. local time. Those figures are not a schedule for other locations.
Rank #3
- SMARTPHONE-POWERED SKY TOUR: No experience needed! Just dock your phone, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and follow the on-screen arrows to locate stars, planets, nebulae, and more.
- PATENTED STARSENSE TECHNOLOGY: Unlike other astronomy apps, StarSense Explorer uses sky recognition technology to turn your phone into a celestial navigation system, analyzing star patterns overhead to pinpoint your telescope’s position.
- TONIGHT’S BEST TARGETS, INSTANTLY: The app generates a curated list of the top objects to see based on your time and location. See planets, bright nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters from the city—and even more from dark skies.
- SIMPLE SETUP, SMOOTH TRACKING: Features a manual altazimuth mount with altitude slow motion adjustment with a sliding rod. Follow the on-screen arrows to your target; when the bullseye turns green, you can view it clearly through the eyepiece.
- 114MM REFLECTOR WITH IMPRESSIVE VIEWS: The 4.5" Newtonian reflector with high-reflectivity coatings delivers sharp, vivid views of the Moon, planets like Jupiter and Saturn, and deep-sky favorites like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy.
Source and date
The event details and observing directions are from Alison Klesman’s Astronomy.com article published October 8, 2026. Pallas’s position relative to the stars changes, so these directions apply to that date.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- BRIGHT, SHARP VIEWS ANYWHERE: Unlike many beginner telescopes, this quality refractor features fully coated glass lenses and a 70mm aperture for crisp, clear views of the Moon, planets, and daytime scenery—all in a lightweight, travel-ready design.
- PERFECT FIRST TELESCOPE FOR BEGINNERS: Designed for adults and kids to enjoy together, this beginner-friendly telescope sets up in minutes and delivers rewarding views with no prior experience required.
- EASY NO-TOOL SETUP: No complicated assembly or tools needed. The full-height tripod and telescope tube set up in seconds and pack neatly into the included backpack—so you’re always ready to observe on the go.
- DUAL EYEPIECES FOR VERSATILE VIEWS: Includes 20mm and 10mm eyepieces for wide and close-up views of celestial and terrestrial targets. Spot craters on the Moon at night or wildlife during the day.
- BONUS BACKPACK AND SOFTWARE: Includes a padded backpack with room for accessories, a finderscope, star diagonal, eyepieces, and a free download of Starry Night software to help you identify celestial objects and plan your next stargazing session.
Rank #4
- Superior Optics: Dianfan astronomy telescope features a focal length of 800 mm and a fully coated 90 mm objective lens. The large aperture gathers more light for brighter, clearer views, high-transmission coatings enhance contrast and color for sharp, vivid images for an enjoyable stargazing experience
- Powerful Magnification: With two eyepieces and a 3× Barlow lens, this telescope offers 32×–240× magnification. It allows you to observe craters and lunar seas on the surface of the Moon. With the 45° zenith mirror, images are upright and correctly oriented for terrestrial viewing, making distant targets details easier to observe. The telescope is ideal for beginners and astronomy enthusiasts
- Quick Setup & Beginner-Friendly: User-friendly design with clear instructions makes assembly simple—ready in about 15 minutes. Smooth focusing helps you quickly locate targets. Perfect for families to enjoy stargazing and explore the night sky together
- Portable & Versatile: Lightweight design with a sturdy stainless steel tripod ensures stable, steady viewing. Easy to carry in the included bag, making it perfect for travel and outdoor adventures. Suitable for stargazing, birdwatching, wildlife observation, and exploring cityscapes
- Professional Astronomical Telescope: The Dianfan 90x800 telescope combines quality , functionality and reliability. It delivers high-resolution views that bring the universe closer. Designed for adults high powered, it inspires interest in astronomy and science while encouraging exploration of the starry sky
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
