Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, October 21st and 22nd, written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, October 21st and 22nd, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 6:03 PM; night falls at 7:37. Dawn begins at 5:43 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 7:18.
The Moon inhabits Auriga on both nights. Monday, the 20-day-old Moon sets at 1:34 PM and rises at 8:00 PM; by Midnight it is 28° high in the East, 32 arc-minutes in size and 72% illuminated. Tuesday, 5 AM finds the Moon 75° high in the South, only 70% lit and sets at 8:01 PM. Early on Wednesday, the almost three-quarter Moon creates a triangle of Castor, Pollux and Mars high in the East.
Evening Star Venus is positioned in Scorpius, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, 13 arc-seconds in size, rises at 10:30 AM, highest at 3 PM, 5° high by 7 PM, 80% lit and sets at 7:32 PM. Saturn, in southern Aquarius, rises at 4:25 PM, shines with zero magnitude, 18 arc-seconds, 25° highest at 9:52 PM and sets at 3:22 AM. Neptune, stays in southern Pisces and 14° from Saturn; rises at 4:53 PM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, 22° highest at 10:44 PM and sets at 4:38 AM.
Comet C/2023 A3 occupies southwestern Ophiuchus, 4th magnitude, 48% lit, rises at 9:25 AM, highest at 3:40 AM and sets at 9:55 PM.
Local observers have spotted with binoculars and some even saw it with eyes alone. It is best to see it from a clear western horizon at about 7 PM.
Southwestern Taurus hosts Uranus and Jupiter. Uranus rises at 7:12 PM, 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, highest at 2:29 AM and 50° high at 5 AM. Jupiter, 25° from Uranus, glimmers with minus 2nd magnitude, 45 arc-seconds, rises at 8:42 PM highest at 4:14 AM and 67° at 5 AM. Wednesday, the Great Red Spot ( a giant storm) becomes visible at 12:23 AM; Jovian moon Io begins eclipse at 2:27 AM; Ganymede begins its eclipse at 4:22 AM. Mars, 32° from Jupiter, glows with zero magnitude, 9 arc-seconds, rises at 11:09 PM, highest at 6:40 AM, 61° at 5 AM and 88% lit.
Pre-dawn observers on Sunday and Monday nights sees 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 originate from the most famous comet of them all – Comet Halley, which returns about every 76 years. The shower’s peak is 2 AM Monday; meteor speeds are about 148,000 miles per hour. The constellation is almost overhead; the Moon is 72% lit in the South, which may wash out dim meteors. One may see up to 10 meteors per hour. They rise about 8 PM and set during daytime. An observer needs no special equipment; one simply stares at the sky. Since this is Autumn, cold weather clothing and boots help avoid the chill.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka