October has quietly arrived, and it is a month full of changes for the northern and southern hemispheres. The sun has crossed the autumn equinox of September, and the seasons have changed with it. Living in the Northern Hemisphere, we are gradually entering winter, while the Southern Hemisphere is moving from spring to summer. Daylight is more attached to one part of the earth, and gradually alienates the other, so that the night sky we can observe in October also changes.
If you need an astronomical telescope to enjoy the starry sky this month, we also provide some guides to introduce the best stargazing telescopes. From the Meade Polaris 130 (less than $1,000) to the Orion Atlas 8 EQ-E GoTo (about $10,000), you'll always find a telescope that suits your budget and your astronomical hobby.
There are two meteor showers in October, the Draco and Orion meteor showers. In addition, there are several close encounters of celestial bodies. Next, enjoy the splendor of the October night sky.
1. October 1: M31 in excellent observation position
October is a good month for astronomical observation, and at the beginning of October, the stage in the air immediately begins. The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, will be perfectly placed in its ideal observation position on the evening of October 1.
Although the moon will be only 25% bright on October 1, Andromeda (and M31) will be visible in the northeast night sky. This is a great opportunity to observe this winter constellation as well as a neighbor of our Galaxy.
October 3: The moon meets Jupiter
Image credit: Mark Kent posted on Flickr
After a few days, you will find traces of Jupiter near the New Moon. On October 3, when Jupiter passed the moon at a distance of 1°50′, the five-day-old moon was about 31% bright. Make sure you have a clear view near the horizon in the southwest direction, where the Moon and Jupiter will appear hand in hand just 15 degrees above the horizon.
3. October 4: The Magellanic Cloud is in excellent observation position
Image credit: Diego Rodriguez posted on Flickr
Those friends in the southern hemisphere also have a feast of astronomical observations. On the night of October 4, the Magellanic Cloud will be in excellent observation position. It will hang high in the night sky at midnight local time. On a clear night, the Magellanic Nebula is clearly visible, so why not take out your telescope and take a closer look?
October 5: The moon meets Saturn
Image credit: Cédric Allier posted on Flickr
Like Jupiter a few days ago, Saturn will follow closely to the Moon. On the night of October 5, Saturn will be closest to the Moon, at a distance of about 0°15′, and Saturn will be close to the upper quarter moon.
After dusk, near the southern horizon, you will be able to find the Moon and Saturn. They cling to each other. If you want to see more clearly, a pair of binoculars can meet your needs.
5. October 6: The Moon meets Pluto
Unlike previous months, in October, the Moon will meet on different nights with Saturn and Pluto. On the evening of October 6, through an astronomical telescope, you will be able to observe our favorite dwarf planet, Pluto, skimming the upper moon at a distance of 0°08′.
9 October: Draco meteor shower maximum
Image credit: Darron Birgenheier posted on Flickr
On the evening of October 9, when the Draco meteor shower reached its maximum, the northern hemisphere constellation was near the bright Vega star.
The Draco meteor shower is not as active as other meteor showers, such as the Orion meteor shower that follows, but you can still see up to five meteors per hour. Given that the moon on the night of October 9 is already about 83% bright, this will interfere with your observations, but on a clear night, it's still worth a try.
15 October: M33 in excellent observation position
Following the footsteps of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), the Delta Galaxy (M33) will also appear high in the sky on the evening of October 15. Since these two galaxies were originally close neighbors in the night sky, the appearance of triangular galaxies was taken for granted.
At midnight local time, you can look for the M33 near the zenith. Unfortunately, a moon close to a full moon will interfere with your observations. You'll need at least a pair of binoculars, so don't forget to bring them before you go out.
October 21: Orion meteor shower maximum
Image credit: Mike Lewinski posted on Flickr
Without a doubt, the best thing about October is the Orion meteor shower! This year it will reach its maximum on October 21. The Orion Meteor Shower will occur on the night of October 16-30, and on that day, you'll see up to 25 meteors slit across the sky per hour.
The Orion meteor shower emanates from the famous Orion spot, which will be extremely recognizable. You can first find The constellation Orion in the eastern sky, and then try to observe meteor showers. The Moon will be located in the southern sky, hopefully it won't produce too much light to interfere with your observations.
The best time to observe the Orion meteor shower is on dawn eve, between 3:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
9. October 31: The Moon and Jupiter meet again
At the end of the month, you'll have one last chance to see something interesting in the night sky. Jupiter and the Moon will meet again, and on the evening of the 31st, the two will be about 1° 17′ apart. It is worth mentioning that the moon at this time will only be 3 days old, which means that the brightness is only 14%, which also makes the largest planet in the solar system more brightly in our eyes.
Resources
1. Wikipedia Encyclopedia
2. Astronomical terms
3.ABOUT THE AUTHOR- Lexer- Valerie Stimac
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