Skywatching Events for October 2011

Moon Phases

Mon., October 3, 11:15 p.m. EDT

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 3 p.m., and sets around 11 p.m.

Tue., October 11, 10:06 p.m. EDT

Full Moon

This is the Full Moon after Harvest Moon, so is usually called the Hunter’s Moon. Other names are Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, and Blood Moon. In Hindi it is known as Kojagiri or Sharad Purnima, or lakshmi puja. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Vap Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky. This is the smallest Full Moon of 2011.

Wed., October 19, 11:30 p.m. EDT

Last Quarter Moon

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 11 p.m. and sets around 2 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Wed., October 26, 3:56 p.m. EDT

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon.

Observing Highlights

All Month, evening

Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1)

Comet Garradd continues to be a nice object in binoculars or a small telescope, an 8th magnitude comet slowly crossing Hercules. Unfortunately, Comet Elenin, which was hoped to put on a good show this month, does not seem to have survived its close encounter with the Sun.

Sat., October 1, morning

Mars in the Beehive

The planet Mars is imbedded amongst the stars of the Beehive Cluster in Cancer.

Sat., October 8

Draconid Meteor Shower

The annual Draconid meteor shower peaks each October and is typically a lackluster affair. This year, the meteor shower is expected to be quite strong, but the timing (during daylight hours for North America skywatchers) and its peak near the almost-full moon suggest it may not offer much of a light show.

Mon., October 24–Mon., October 31, morning

Zodiacal Light

The Zodiacal Light, the faint glow of sunlight reflecting off the cloud of interplanetary dust, is visible before morning twilight.

Fri., October 28, sunset

Mercury and Venus close to the Moon

Mercury, Venus, and the slender crescent Moon set just after the Sun.

Fri., October 28, 10 pm EDT

Jupiter in opposition

Jupiter reaches opposition in the constellation Aries, and is visible all night long.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun for most of the month for observers in the northern hemisphere.

Venus is low in the evening sky just after sunset all month.

Mars begins the month right in the middle of the Beehive Cluster in Cancer. By the end of the month it has moved into Leo and has grown to 5.9 arc seconds in diameter and magnitude 1.1.

Jupiter is opposition in Aries in October 28, and is the brightest object in the night sky other than the Moon.

Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun on October 13, and is not visible this month.

Uranus is visible most of the night in Pisces.

Neptune is well placed in Aquarius all month.