As the nights get longer in the northern hemisphere, the skies are filled with good observing opportunities.
Meteor Showers in October
October has one annual meteor shower of note named the Orionids. The Orionid meteor shower occurs overnight from October 21 to 22, with the "shooting stars" appearing to emanate from the constellation Orion. Up to 22 meteors an hour are possible during the peak of the Orionids.
Another October meteor shower may surprise viewers this year. One astronomer believes that Earth is positioned to plow through a dense stream of debris on October 8. The Draconid meteor shower is predicted to have a brief outburst of 750 to 1000 meteors an hour. Even though it may be a long shot, it's still worth a look. The meteors are predicted to emanate from the region around Draco the Dragon's head.
Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1)
Comet Garradd is within range of binoculars and telescopes for October. The comet is shining at about magnitude 6 in the constellation Hercules. Look southwest of the keystone shape, where Comet Garradd is slowly approaching the star Rasalgethi and is just above the star Rasalhague in Ophiuchus. The comet has a diffuse cloudy shape that is much wider than any of the background stars. Keen observers may also be able to see the comet's tail.
The Moon in October
The moon begins the month just above the reddish star Antares. On October 2, the moon is positioned above the teapot of Sagittarius. Full Moon for October is on the 11th at 10:06 p.m. EDT. This is the most distant full moon of the year because the moon reaches apogee, or its farthest point in its orbit from us, the next morning at 8 a.m. EDT.
The moon is near the Pleiades on October 14 and 15. New Moon this month is on October 26. On October 28, the moon will be setting as a slender crescent in the west with Venus to its right and Mercury just below Venus.
Jupiter Reaches Opposition
Jupiter is at opposition on October 28 when it is opposite from the sun in our sky. This means that it rises as the sun sets and sets as the sun rises, remaining visible all night. Jupiter shines at its maximum brightness around opposition, at magnitude -2.9. A telescope will show the four largest moons of Jupiter and some of the dark belts of its atmosphere. Look for Jupiter in the constellation Aries in the east in the early evenings.
Source: Celeston's The Sky software
Kelly Whitt - I have been a professional writer for more than a decade, covering many topics from science-based articles to do-it-yourself home ...
