🪐 StarPixels Skynotes for Thursday, 30 October 2025📍 North Texas (Denton/Argyle)

⸻

🌙 Sky Times:
• Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous, ~59% illuminated. 
• Sunrise: 07:45 a.m. CDT 
• Sunset: 18:38 (6:38 p.m.) CDT 
• Astronomical twilight (end): ~19:03 (7:03 p.m.) CDT 

⸻

🔭 Space Headlines:
• James Webb Space Telescope spots a “cosmic moon‑factory” disk around the young exoplanet CT Cha b (~625 ly away) — offering unique insight into moon‑formation processes. 
• A major 3‑D temperature map of the exoplanet WASP‑18 b released — first of its kind, enabled by Webb’s spectroscopy. 
• The interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS undergoes perihelion and begins its outbound trajectory — rare opportunity for study of a non‑solar‑system comet. 

⸻

⚠️ Transient Alerts:
• 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1)
• RA/Dec (J2000): — (precise latest ephemeris needed)
• Constellation: approx. Virgo region (early evening sky)
• Estimated magnitude: ~14‑15 (very faint)
• Best local window: TONIGHT/URGENT — despite faintness, this is a rare interstellar object, so worth attempt if you have a good scope and dark horizon.
• Alt/Az at window start: Approx ~20° altitude from western horizon shortly after local sunset (estimate).
• Visual links: See “Verified Visuals” below.

⸻

☁️ Dew/Cloud/Seeing Note:
Expect increasing dew as the night cools in North Texas; cloud cover may drift in from nearby frontal systems, so seeing likely fair but not ideal. For astrophotography, target shorter exposures and avoid very low‑altitude targets if horizon haze is present.

⸻

✅ Verified Visuals:
• Webb “moon‑factory” disk around CT Cha b: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251027224915.htm 
• WASP‑18 b 3‑D temperature map: https://astrobiology.com/2025/10/the-first-3d-temperature-map-of-a-distant-exoplanet.html 
• 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet overview: https://newsweek.com/3i-atlas-comet-live-updates-location-space-earth-10960120 

⸻

🖼 New Space Telescope Images (last 24h):
Significant release: Webb’s “moon‑factory” disk around CT Cha b (see link above) — qualifying as a major image release from the last day.