Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday October 23rd, and 24th, 2023
This is the Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday October 23rd, and 24th, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 6:01 PM; night falls at 7:35. Dawn begins at 5:45 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 7:19.
Monday’s Moon rises in southeastern Capricornus at 3:46 PM, 24° high at 7 PM, 32 arc-seconds in size, 70% illuminated and sets at 1:51 AM, Tuesday. Tuesday’s Moon shifts to Aquarius, rises at 4:13 PM, 24° high, just as bright and large, but 80% lit and sets at 3:10 AM on Wednesday.
Mercury and Mars remain buried in the Sun’s glare. Saturn is already up as the “Evening Star”, in southeastern Aquarius, 7° from the Moon, glistening with zero magnitude, moderate 18 arc-seconds, 34° highest at 8:59 PM and sets at 2:12 AM. Neptune trails 24° behind Saturn, glimmering with 7th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 28° at 7:30 PM, 40° at 10:30 and sets at 4:22 AM.
Eastern Aries encloses Jupiter and Uranus which set during daytime. Jupiter rises at 6:30 PM, flickering with minus 2nd magnitude, 10° at 7:30 PM, 49 arc-seconds and 61° highest at 1:29 AM. Uranus follows 10° behind Jupiter, rising at 6:52 PM, shining with minus 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 6° high at 7:30 and 65° highest at 2:07 AM.
Venus lingers as the “Morning Star”, rising in southeastern Leo at 3:22 AM, blazing with minus 4th magnitude, 24 arc-seconds, 51% illuminated and 33° at 6:30 AM. Monday, Venus achieves its greatest elongation, which means that it appears farthest from and soon begins closing in on the Sun.
Comet 103P/ Hartley remains in the sky, but now pulling away. It rises at 12:10 AM, magnitude 9 and 58° high at 6:30 AM; time for last looks.
Pre-dawn observers on Monday and Tuesday may see meteors streaming from the area of Orion’s club. This is the annual Orionid meteor shower. Meteor showers result when Earth’s orbit crosses paths with debris from comets. Orionids come from the most famous comet of them all – Comet Halley, which returns about every 75 years. The shower’s peak was Sunday; meteor speeds measure about 148,000 miles per hour. The constellation appears almost overhead; the Moon is 80% lit in the West, which may wash out dim meteors. If observing conditions are good, one may see about 10 meteors per hour. They rise about 10 PM and set around Noon. Even though past peak, the stream produces some meteors until November. The observer needs no special equipment; he simply stares at the sky. Since this is Autumn, cold weather clothing and boots help avoid the chill.