Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday October 2nd, and 3rd, 2023
This is the Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday October 2nd, and 3rd, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 6:35 PM; night falls at 8:09. Dawn begins at 5:20 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 6:55.
The Moon inhabits northeastern Taurus on both nights. Monday’s Moon sets at 10:47 AM and rises shortly after nightfall at 8:19; by 10PM it is 16° high, 31 arc-minutes in diameter and 84% illuminated. Tuesday’s Moon sets at 12:01 PM, rises at 8:55 PM, 9° high by 10 PM, same size but 74% lit and sets Wednesday at 1:10 PM. Tuesday finds the Moon and Pleiades 1.5° apart; observers are suggested to use binoculars or telescopes to lessen the Moon’s glare.
Comet 103P/Hartley is still visible. By Midnight, it is about 11° high in the Northeast, 7th magnitude, 68% lit, highest at 6:53 AM and sets during daylight. It lies 12° below Gemini’s star Castor, aiding observers.
Saturn is the “evening planet”, rising in southern Aquarius, gleams with zero magnitude, a moderate 18 arc-seconds, 34° highest at 10:24 PM and sets at 3:39 AM. Neptune follows in southeastern Pisces by 24°, glowing with 7th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, highest at Midnight and sets at 5:47 AM.
Eastern Aries shares Jupiter and Uranus. Jupiter rises at 8:01 PM, glaring with minus 2nd magnitude, a large 48 arc-seconds, 21° at 10 PM and highest at 3 AM. Monday, The Great Red Spot (large storm) begins its trek at 11:56 PM. The moon Europa begins travels at 11:11 PM and ends at 1:24 AM, Tuesday. Wednesday sees the moon Io’s shadow beginning its trip at 3:21 AM, followed by Io itself at 4:07 with the shadow terminating during Civil Dawn at 5:32. Uranus trails 8° behind Jupiter, rising at 8:19 PM glimmering with 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 17° high at 10 PM, highest at 3:32 AM. Note Jupiter and Uranus are clustered with the Moon, Jupiter 15° away and Uranus only 6°.
Venus is the “morning star,” rising in eastern Leo at 3:14 AM, blazing with minus 4th magnitude, 31 arc-seconds, 38% lit and 30° high at 6 AM. Finally, Mercury emerges in eastern Virgo at 5:44 AM, only 13° from the Sun, gleaming with minus 1st magnitude, almost 6 arc-seconds in size and 2° high at 6 AM. Mercury is difficult because the rising Sun’s glare interferes.
Like planets and comets, asteroids possess defined orbits around the Sun. Comets are ice and rock mixes, while asteroids are mostly rock. There are several types of asteroid (also called Minor Planets). Some circle between Jupiter and Mars; others accompany planets; then there are inhabitants of the outer solar system. Last week, NASA concluded its first mission to collect samples of pristine asteroid grains. The mission began in 2016, visited the asteroid Bennu to gather samples, headed for home, dropped the samples in Utah and headed back to another asteroid. NASA was not the first to do this, the Japanese Hayabusa mission visited Ryugu for a similar mission in 2010.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka