October Astronomy Reminder

The Orionid Meteor Shower will light up the night sky on October 21 and 22. This event happens every year when Earth passes through the debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.  As these tiny particles enter our atmosphere, they burn up and create bright streaks of light known as meteors.

The Orionids are named after the constellation Orion, because the meteors seem to appear from that part of the sky.  They are known for being fast and bright, often leaving glowing trails that last for several seconds. Under dark skies, you might see up to 20 meteors per hour during the peak.

To watch this event, find a dark location away from city lights. The best viewing time is after midnight and before dawn when the sky is darkest. No special equipment is needed, but letting your eyes adjust to the darkness for about 20 minutes will help you see more meteors.

This meteor shower is one of the most reliable and enjoyable for both beginners and experienced sky watchers. Even if you only see a few, the sight of these natural fireworks across the stars is worth staying up for.

click on image to enlarge

Photo of Constellation Orion Monday morning - view southeast, October 20, at 5 AM. iPhone 14 Pro. 

Opportunity Lost?

This sucks.

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is making its closest approach to earth tonight.

It should be in center fame - above and slightly right of the brick oven chimney.

Naturally, Ma Nature has sent rain our direction to mess with my once-in-a-lifetime astronomical viewing experience.  

Ugh.....

October Astronomy

The Orionid meteor shower featured in this post originates in the debris left behind by Halley's Comet.  Halley completes a circumnavigation of our sun every 76 years or thereabouts.  It last visited us in 1986 and will return in 2061.  Nevertheless, the dust trail left behind in its path does not disappear and is intercepted every year in late October.

As particulate matter from the debris trail enters our atmosphere it burns-up producing the Orionid meteor shower.  The orbit of the earth is opposite that of the debris (Retrograde is the Word Of The Day) resulting in fast-moving shooting stars.  We also collide with the debris once-again in May which results in the Eta Aquariids meteor show.  Halley is responsible for two meteor shows a year.

The overall duration of this shower is from September 26 to November 22 and is scheduled to peak on the evenings of October 21 with the best opportunities after midnight and before dawn.

This month's New Moon coincides with tomorrow evening.  New moons have no moonlight to clutter your viewing conditions and if you have clear skies viewing conditions could be optimal.  The radiant for the Orionids originates from the constellation Orion the Hunter so fix yourself a cuppa hot cocoa or a glass of Merlot and keep your fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions.

09.15.23 Orion

October Astronomy

Astronomers have spotted a new visitor to our skies: Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN). 

This comet takes more than 22,000 years to orbit the sun, making it a true once-in-a-lifetime visitor. 

Early images show a long, beautiful tail. It might brighten enough to be seen without binoculars. 

Bob King - aka AstroBob - and EarthSky's Deborah Byrd explore Comet SWAN - how it was discovered, where to find it in the sky and what to expect in this video. 

Bonus - view beautiful images!  

December Night Sky

One of the fun things about winter is the night sky.  Cold, clear, winter skies are characterized by a lack of humidity and if you live in the country there is very little urban light pollution creating some spectacular opportunities for star-gazing.    

December brings a couple of meteor showers to the night skies.  The more prolific of the two is the Geminids with as many as 120 to 160 shooting stars per hour. 

Shooting starts are most often associated with the Earth’s passage thru the debris field of a comet.  The Geminids are a bit of a mystery as they are related with an extinct comet which also happens to be a near-earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. 

EarthSky.org
 

While competition from the light cast by the Cold Moon could be a challenge this is a show you do not want to miss.  The best viewing should start the evening of Friday the 13^th and peak on Saturday evening the 14^th. 

December 17^th to the 26^th brings the Ursid meteor shower with 5  to 10 shooting stars per hour as the Earth passes thru the debris field of Comet 8P/Tuttle.   

EarthSky.org
 

Peak action coincides with the solstice the evening of the 21^st and 22^nd.  Again, there will be competition from persistent moonlight.  Your best opportunity will be before moonrise on Saturday, December  21^st .

Mark your calendar and if your catch a cold, clear, winter sky bundle-up and take some time to sit outside and observe the heavens. 

There’s no mosquitoes this time of year!

What To See In The November Night Sky

With November comes the Leonid meteor shower. The 2024 Leonids will be a reasonably
laid-back affair with the early morning opportunity to observe shooting stars between November 6 to 30. The peak display will be this evening and into tomorrow Sunday morning November 17.

The meteors originate when the orbital path of the earth collides with the debris left behind by
comets. These bits and pieces of comet detritus enter the earth’s atmosphere with the resulting vaporization creating the streaks of light we call meteors.

The debris associated with the repeated passage of the comet Tempel-Tuttle results in this November display.  Like other meteor showers, this one will be best viewed after midnight. Turn your gaze toward the constellation Leo the Lion, where the shooting stars appear to emanate.

The 2024 Leonids are a moderate meteor shower with a peak display of about 10-15 meteors per hour. Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, dots a backwards question mark of stars known as the Sickle. If you trace all the “shooting stars” from the Leonid meteor shower backward, they appear to radiate from this area of the sky.  Interference of moonlight may wash-out many of the meteors visible in a darker sky. Nevertheless, a dark rural location with minimal light pollution may yield good results.

Tempel-Tuttle is a periodic visitor that will return in 2031.  it is worthy of mention that the Leonids can be stunning on rare occasions. With the reappearance of Tempel-Tuttle every 33 years the debris left in its wake can result in meteors up to a rate of 1000 an hour! 2001 was a very good November and 1966 was breathtaking.

Unfortunately, a bright moon is going to shine on your meteor parade all night long competing with the fainter meteors. 

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions and early rising if you have to get out of bed to pee.....

October Night Skies

The Orionid meteor shower featured in this post originates in the debris left behind by Halley's Comet.  Halley completes a circumnavigation of our sun every 76 years or thereabouts.  It last visited us in 1986 and will return in 2061.  Nevertheless, the dust trail left behind in its path does not disappear and is intercepted every year in late October.

As particulate matter from the debris trail enters our atmosphere it burns-up producing the Orionid meteor shower.  The orbit of the earth is opposite that of the debris (Retrograde is the Word Of The Day) resulting in fast-moving shooting stars.  We also collide with the debris once-again in May which results in the Eta Aquariids meteor show.  Halley is responsible for two meteor shows a year.

The overall duration of this shower is from September 26 to November 22 and is scheduled to peak on the evenings of October 20 and 21 with the best opportunities after midnight and before dawn.

The radiant for the Orionids originates from the constellation Orion the Hunter so fix yourself a cuppa hot cocoa or a glass of Merlot and keep your fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions.

09.15.23 Orion

October Night Skies

C/2023 A3 (Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

 

Auto exposure (3+sec) and auto stabilization - no tripod. iPhone 14 Pro.

Porch lights were on.  And I used a filter for enhanced color and B&W effect.

I set an alarm and miraculously the clouds parted!  

Bracketed a pile of photos - kept seven.

click on images for closer look

 

October Night Skies

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3 to astronomers) has been making an appearance since September.  Between now and the end of the month will be your last opportunity to see this in the night sky before it disappears into the cosmos.  Astronomers believe that this celestial body circles the sun about once every 80,000 years.

Brighter than the planet Jupiter it is easy to spot with the naked eye.  Binoculars or a telescope will enhance your viewing pleasure. 

Finally, was home to catch a photo last evening as the sun set.

Too many trees around here.  Although the foreground lighting from the porch lights is interesting.....

October Night Skies

In the world of once in a lifetime opportunities this is one you'll not want to miss.

Discovered only last year, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3 to astronomers) has been making an appearance since September.  Between now and the end of the month will be your last opportunity to see this in the night sky before it disappears into the cosmos.  Astronomers believe that this celestial body circles the sun about once every 80,000 years.

Brighter than the planet Jupiter it is easy to spot with the naked eye.  Binoculars or a telescope will enhance your viewing pleasure. 

Comets consist of ice, dust and rock, think:  Dirty Snowball.  The ice component is made-up of frozen water, carbon dioxide, ammonia and methane mixed with dust and rock originating back to the formation of our solar system.  As the comet circumnavigates our sun some of the ice vaporizes resulting in a visible tail of gas and dust.  Rock and dust from the object may enter the earth's atmosphere resulting in meteors (shooting stars).

Look to the west-southwest, low on the horizon, about 30 to 45 minutes following sunset.  An unobstructed view is recommended.

Image - Space.com

 

November Night Sky

This year's annual Leonid meteor shower peaks tomorrow and Saturday evening across the US.  It will coincide with a five-day old crescent moon that sets before midnight.  

In recent years the number of meteors have been declining and are not expected to improve for a couple of years.  Nevertheless, there is much more going on in the night sky.  Jupiter is visible all evening and Venus rises early.  

The constellation Leo and its radiant (see illustration) will rise in the eastern horizon around midnight and will be highest above the horizon just before dawn.

The meteors originate when the orbital path of the earth collides with the debris left behind by
comets. These bits and pieces of comet detritus enter the earth’s atmosphere with the resulting vaporization creating the streaks of light we call meteors.  

The debris associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle results in this November display. Like other meteor showers, this one will be best viewed after midnight. Turn your gaze toward the
constellation Leo the Lion, where the shooting stars appear to emanate.

Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, dots a backwards question mark of stars known as the Sickle. If you trace all the “shooting stars” from the Leonid meteor shower backward, they appear to radiate from this area of the sky.  A dark rural location with minimal light pollution provides for optimal viewing opportunities.

Tempel-Tuttle is a periodic visitor that will return in 2031.  it is worthy of mention that the Leonids can be stunning on rare occasions. With the reappearance of Tempel-Tuttle every 33 years the debris left in its wake can result in meteors up to a rate of 1000 an hour!  2001 was a very good November and 1966 was breathtaking.

The best time for observation is just before dawn although the shower is active beginning November 6 thru December 2.  It is observable for a couple of weeks either side of the peak viewing dates. 

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions and early rising if you have to get out of bed to pee.....

 

Wassup In The October Night Sky

The Orionid meteor shower featured in this post originates in the debris left behind by Halley's Comet.  Halley completes a circumnavigation of our sun every 76 years or thereabouts.  It last visited us in 1986 and will return in 2061.  Nevertheless, the dust trail left behind in its path does not disappear and is intercepted every year in late October.

As particulate matter from the debris trail enters our atmosphere it burns-up producing the Orionid meteor shower.  The orbit of the earth is opposite that of the debris (Retrograde is the Word Of The Day) resulting in fast-moving shooting stars.  We also collide with the debris once-again in May which results in the Eta Aquariids meteor show.  Halley is responsible for two meteor shows a year.

The overall duration of this shower is from September 26 to November 22 and is scheduled to peak on the evenings of October 20 and 21 with the best opportunities after midnight and before dawn.

The radiant for the Orionids originates from the constellation Orion the Hunter so fix yourself a cuppa hot cocoa or a glass of Merlot and keep your fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions. 

09.15.23 Orion

Wassup In The October Night Sky

The Draconid meteor shower is comparatively a short-lived event in the general ranking of meteor showers.  The Draconids occur when the orbit of the earth bisects the orbital path of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

When the dust and icy debris of the comet collide with the upper atmosphere of the earth it burns-up as the Draconid meteor shower.  

This comet is named after its discoverer when Michel Giacobini first observed it on December 20, 1900.  A subsequent observation by Ernst Zinner in 1913 added him to the name - thusly 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

Radiating from the constellation Draco - the dragon - this constellation found in our northern hemisphere can be spotted near the bright star, Vega. This year the meteor shower is expected to peak around midnight October 8 and 9. A great opportunity to observe shooting stars despite light competition from the full moon. 

Follow this chart facing north.  Locate the Big Dipper low in the northwest. Traced backwards the Draconid meteors radiate from the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon.  It is helpful to know that it is very easy to locate Draco - yet be assured that meteors can appear anywhere in the night sky.

Be vigilant and fingers-crossed for clear viewing conditions.

Pro Tip - The Draconids are notoriously unreliable as to activity.  Most of the time it is minor meteor shower.  Other years it exceeds the Geminids and Perseids.  In 2011 astronomers documented more than 600 meteors per hour at its peak!

Wassup In The October Night Sky

The month of October is going to feature plenty of meteors - commonly called shooting stars.  This month kicks-off with a lesser-known show known as the Camelopardalids.  Repeat that word three times, really fast!  

A constellation that doesn't get much respect is Camelopardalis - the giraffe.  It sits high in the night sky betwixt Cassiopeia and Draco (right) and Ursa Major (left). 

NASA Image

The show peaks the evening of October 5 and 6 and will originate just below the giraffe constellation and will appear above the constellations Ursa Major and Draco.  There may still be some light competition from the recent full moon; a telescope or binoculars will help.

Either way, this will be worth a shot as these shooting stars are a mystery as to their origin. Meteors are the result of the debris found in the trails of comets that burns-up in earth's atmosphere.  And there is little if any agreement upon which known comet is responsible for this.

Fingers-crossed for clear skies.

July Night Sky

Tonight heralds a New Moon which means that a dark sky is on tap.

For those of us in the northern hemisphere a recently discovered comet can be found high in the sky in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper).

Comet C/2023 E1 (ATLAS) was discovered in March of this year by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).  Funded by NASA and operated by the University of Hawaii an array of four telescopes located in Hawaii, Chile and South Africa keep watch on the sky for near-earth objects that may present a threat to us earthlings.

The comet reached perihelion (closest to the sun) on July 1 and will reach its closest point to earth on August 18, but will have dimmed by then.  Don't expect a bright object with a tail as it will likely have the appearance of a greenish smudge.

The comet will reach its maximum brightness this evening and you should be able to view it with a telescope or a pair of binoculars.

It will be around for a while, and should offer some sky watching opportunities this summer.