Cool Things in the Sky

For the month of Octoberr 2009

With the passing of the autumnal equinox, we are enjoying the cooler observing nights of fall and October is full of great opportunities this year.
For you early risers, get ready for a dance of the planets as Mercury will be at its morning best for the rest of the year. Mercury joins Venus and

Saturn early this month and does a pas de deux with Saturn on the 7th, 8th, and 9th.

Mars rises after 1 a.m. and is high in the East Southeast by dawn.

Jupiter dominates the evening sky  though it sets just after 3 a.m.

Don’t forget to look out for the Orionid Meteors on the night of the 20th and the morning of the 21st. You might see about 20 per hour if the conditions are near perfect. Find a dark sky location, lie on the ground feet pointed south and enjoy the show. The peak should occur around 6 a.m. on the 21st.

The moon phases for this month are full on the 4th, last quarter on the 11th, new on the 18th and first quarter on the 25th.

 

Would you like to have a really cool starchart? You can go to www.skymaps.com and download a starchart for the current month.