| October 14 | Annular Solar Eclipse |
| October 21-22 | Orionids Meteor Shower Predicted Peak |
| October 23 | Venus at Greatest Western Elongation |
| October 28 | Full Hunter’s Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse |
The Northern Hemisphere has formally handed the autumnal equinox. The days are getting shorter and colder, however the night time sky stays as sizzling as ever. This month goes to be a giant one for cosmic occasions, with an thrilling annular solar eclipse, meteor showers, and clearer stargazing because the temperatures and humidity drop. Aurora exercise can even actually choose up this time of 12 months, for these fortunate sufficient to be on the proper latitudes to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Here are some occasions to look out for this month. If you occur to get any stellar sky photographs, please tag us and embrace #PopSkyGazers.
October 14 – Annular Solar Eclipse
Chances are you might have heard about this one already. The moon will cross between Earth and the solar and solid an enormous shadow on our planet within the course of. With the best protecting eyewear, will probably be a sight to behold—the phenomenon produces a “ring of fire” as if the moon is printed with flames.
Astronomers have calculated exactly when the very best views shall be the place you might be, so seek the advice of this checklist when scheduling an outing to soundly try the sky. The length will vary from little a couple of minute to virtually 5, relying the place you might be situated in its path. This eclipse has a 125-mile-wide path of annularity that can start in Oregon at 12:13 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. It will go away the US at about 1:03 p.m. EDT and head southeastward towards Central and South America.
October 21 and 22 – Orionids Meteor Shower Predicted Peak
The annual Orionid meteor bathe is anticipated to peak on October 22 in a moonless sky, however the wee hours of the morning of October 21 may additionally yield some meteors. According to EarthSky, beneath a darkish sky with no moon, the Orionids can produce a most of about 10 to twenty meteors per hour. On October 22, the moon shall be setting round midnight, which suggests its gentle shouldn’t intrude with the bathe. The greatest time to attempt and spot the bathe is simply after midnight into the early morning hours
October 23 – Venus at Greatest Elongation
In August, the planet Venus moved between the Earth and the solar and rose within the east. Venus shall be farthest from the dawn on October 23 and ought to stay seen within the morning sky till May 2024, the place will probably be a really vivid “morning star.”
During this month’s best elongation, Venus will seem greater within the sky from the Northern Hemisphere than from the Southern Hemisphere. This is due to the steep angle of the trail of the solar, moon, and planets within the mornings through the autumn months.
October 28- Full Hunter’s Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse
The full Hunter’s Moon will attain peak illumination at 4:24 p.m. EDT on Saturday, October 28, however you can begin to search for it on October 27. The Hunter’s Moon is all the time the primary full moon after the Harvest Moon. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the title originates as a sign for hunters to arrange for the upcoming winter to make sure that they’ve sufficient meals. It can also be when animals like the celebs of Fat Bear Week are starting to bulk up for an extended winter’s hibernation, and animals could also be simpler to identify since fields are being cleared. Other names for October’s full moon embrace the Falling Leaves Moon or Binaakwe-giizis in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and the Someone Stores Food Moon or Yutekhway^he in Oneida.
Additionally, a partial lunar eclipse is predicted for this identical day. Between 3:36 and 4:53 EDT, the moon will cross by way of the Earth’s shadow. The eclipse ought to be seen in any location the place the moon is above the horizon on the time, together with elements of Asia, Russia, Africa, Oceania, and Europe.
The identical skygazing guidelines that apply to just about all space-watching actions are key this month: Go to a darkish spot away from the lights of a metropolis or city and let the eyes alter to the darkness for a few half an hour.