What’s in the Sky in October

 

The Sun now past the Southward Equinox, the Southern Hemisphere is heading into warmer weather as we approach perihelion with the Sun.

  • 2nd Oct – 7th Nov  Orionids Meteor Shower Active from October 2nd to November 7th, 2024  The Orionids are a medium strength shower that sometimes reaches high strength activity. In a normal year the Orionids produce 10-20 shower members at maximum. In exceptional years, such as 2006-2009, the peak rates were on par with the Perseids (50-75 per hour). Recent displays have produced low to average displays of this shower. The Moon will interfere with the shower this year.Shower details – Radiant: 06:20 +15.5° – ZHR: 20 – Velocity: 41 miles/sec (swift – 67km/sec) – Parent Object: 1P/Halley

    The Orionids will peak on the Oct 20-21, 2024 night. On this night, the moon will be 83% full.

  • 17th  Moon at Perigee, closest point from Earth this month, 12:54hrs AEDT,  distance from Earth 357,172.5 km. also today is a  Super Moon and this affects damage on coastlines caused by storm surges.
  • 17th Saturn is a stunning object overhead at 20:56hrs AEDT in the evening with several moons of Saturn being clearly visible in our telescopes. At Magnitude o.7, distance 8.877104 AU 73.83 light minutes away.
  • 17th C/203 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas is moving away form the sun now at mag 3.6, distance 0.523076 AU, an evening object is you can find a dark location, probably need a high location and a telescope or camera to pick up.
  • Jupiter is rising at 22:26 hrs AEDT and currently in the constellation of Aries at mag. -2.6 at a distance of 4.446691 AU,  36.98 light minutes away.
  • 30th Moon at Apogee, Closest point to Earth this month, 05:52hrs AEDT, distance from Earth 406,162.1 km.