October 2024 Sky-gazing stars include a Supermoon and a rare comet
Autumn is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere. October is full of celestial action, with a supermoon, a comet, meteor showers and a big NASA mission all planned for this month. Here is the calendar of events and how you can participate in these cosmic events.
October 2: Annular solar eclipse
An annular solar eclipse creates a ‘ring of fire’.
A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse will obscure the sun on October 2. The eclipse will take place mainly over ocean waters, but the full ring effect will be visible from parts of Argentina and Chile. Other spots will be treated for a partial solar eclipse. Here’s everything you need to know about the Ring of Fire and how to see it.
October 7-October 8: Peaks of the Draconid meteor shower
All month long, “shooting stars” will dance across the night sky. Meteor showers occur when small pieces of icy comets or rocky asteroids enter Earth’s atmosphere and turn into bright streaks of light. The pieces of space debris are called meteoroids. When they become fireballs, they are called meteors. If part of a meteoroid reaches the ground, it is a meteorite.
Here are all the listed meteor showers active through the end of the year and how to see them. For October, pay special attention to the Draconids and Orionids. The Draconid rain peaks around October 7 and 8, but runs from October 6 through October. 10. The Draconids don’t always put on a spectacular show, but they have the potential to generate an impressive wave in a few years. Aim for a place with dark skies and minimal light pollution.
October 10: NASA launches Europa Clipper
NASA is targeting October 10 for the fiery launch of its Europa Clipper mission. The agency will send a spacecraft to study Jupiter’s strange and fascinating ocean moon Europa, a place that may be habitable to microbial life. The launch is scheduled for 9:31 a.m. PT on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA will livestream the launch. Launches are sometimes postponed due to technical or weather-related problems.
October 12: Comet A3 makes its closest approach to Earth
Comet A3 shows up spectacularly in this image of NASA astronaut Don Pettit, taken from the International Space Station.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is also called C/2023-A3 or simply Comet A3. This icy visitor survived a close approach to the sun and could become a celestial celebrity for viewers on Earth. Astrophotographers in the Southern Hemisphere and astronauts on the International Space Station have already captured the comet’s portrait. The Northern Hemisphere can get good viewing opportunities in October.
Comet A3’s closest approach to Earth will occur on October 12. You may need a telescope or good binoculars, but chances are the comet is visible to the naked eye.
“Kometa A3 has generated so much excitement about how bright and visible it could be that it has even been heralded in some quarters as the ‘comet of the century’,” according to the Royal Astronomical Society in a statement on September 30. It’s too early to say if it will live up to the hype. The RAS recommends looking west just after sunset from October 12 through October. 30. Happy Comet Hunting!
October 17: Full Hunter’s “supermoon”
NASA highlights the moon’s phases for October 2024.
October’s full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon. This year’s Hunter’s Moon is a “supermoon,” meaning the moon will be close to Earth and may appear slightly larger and brighter than normal. The size difference is subtle. Every full moon is a delightful experience, but it’s especially fun to cheer for a supermoon. The Hunter’s Moon will reach maximum illumination on October 17 at 4:26 a.m. PT. according to the Old Farmers’ Almanac. For the best view, look for the moon after sunset that evening.
October 20-21: Orionid meteor shower peaks
The Orionid meteor shower is known for its bright streaks. It is one of the most important meteor showers of the year.
The Orionid meteor shower reaches its maximum on October 20-21, but lasts all month. At its peak, expect 10-20 meteors per hour if you have ideal viewing conditions. This shower is generally more reliable than the Draconids.
Bonus: Earth has a mini moon
Earth welcomed a temporary small moon into orbit in late September. The small asteroid will remain there until the end of November. It’s too small to see with amateur astronomy equipment, but it’s up there and makes for a fun conversation piece. Here’s everything you need to know about our visiting mini-moon.
