The darkish “tail” seen behind the Cocoon Nebula (IC5146) is cataloged as B168 and generally referred to as the Darkish Cigar. Credit score: Kees Scherer (Flickr)
Friday, October 27
Take a while to observe the well-known star Arcturus setting within the western sky early this night. Relying in your location, the brilliant, orange-hued big might be low within the west an hour after sundown, maybe some 10° excessive.
Magnitude –0.1 Arcturus is the alpha star within the constellation Boötes the Herdsman. It anchors the bottom of the lengthy finish of its kite-shaped star sample. This circumpolar constellation lies close to Ursa Main and its well-known asterism, the Large Dipper. Actually, there’s a standard saying which you could “arc to Arcturus” from the Large Dipper’s deal with, beginning on the bowl and ending on the tip, after which following the curve some methods to the following vibrant star.
How low Arcturus swings within the sky — and whether or not it really units in any respect — will rely in your latitude. The farther north you might be, the much less probably it’s to set. From our “commonplace” location of 40° north, the star units about two hours after sundown tonight and swings beneath the horizon to rise early tomorrow morning rather less than two hours earlier than the Solar rises once more.
Dawn: 7:24 A.M.
Sundown: 6:04 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:31 P.M.
Moonset: 5:51 A.M.
Moon Section: Waxing gibbous (98%)
*Occasions for dawn, sundown, moonrise, and moonset are given in native time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. native time from the identical location.
Saturday, October 28
Full Moon happens at 4:24 P.M. EDT. The October Full Moon can be referred to as the Hunter’s Moon. Because of the timing, the Moon ought to seem Full because it rises above the japanese horizon reverse the sundown all through the U.S.
With this Full Moon comes a partial lunar eclipse. Keep in mind that annular solar eclipse earlier this month? Photo voltaic eclipses at all times pair with lunar eclipses, so now it’s the Moon’s flip. This eclipse is barely partial as a result of the Moon will largely go by way of simply the penumbra — the outer, lighter portion of Earth’s shadow. Solely a tiny little bit of the Moon will pierce the darker, interior shadow, referred to as the umbra. Partial lunar eclipses are extra delicate than dramatic. You may even see a portion of the Moon tackle a dusky look because it skims by way of Earth’s shadow.
For observers within the Americas, solely these in japanese North and South America will catch the occasion; most of it happens over Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, the place skywatchers will get a significantly better present. The eclipse begins at 2:01 P.M. EDT, earlier than the Moon has risen wherever within the U.S., and ends at 6:26 P.M. EDT. Most eclipse happens at 4:14 P.M. EDT. Observers alongside the northeastern coast of the U.S., from about Myrtle Seaside northward, will be capable to see the ultimate partial phases of the penumbral eclipse because the Moon is rising.
Whether or not eclipsed or not, the rising Full Moon will nonetheless present a shocking sight because it dominates the japanese sky with its vibrant gentle.
Dawn: 7:25 A.M.
Sundown: 6:03 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:57 P.M.
Moonset: 7:06 A.M.
Moon Section: Full
Sunday, October 29
The intense Moon passes two planets within the sky because it makes its method by way of Aries right now. Luna sits 3° north of Jupiter at 4 A.M. EDT, seen within the west within the early-morning sky. By night, the Moon will sit 3° north of Uranus at 10 P.M. EDT, then seen above the japanese horizon.
Let’s begin with the primary occasion early within the morning, when the Moon will lie simply to vibrant Jupiter’s higher proper above the western horizon. At magnitude –2.9, Jupiter is the brightest level of sunshine in Aries, a dim, sparse constellation. Zoom in on the gas giant with a telescope, and also you’ll see that each one 4 of its Galilean moons misinform its west this morning. Farthest out is Ganymede. Relying on whenever you look, the remaining three moons will change configuration. Early within the morning, Callisto lies closest to Jupiter’s southwest, whereas Io is barely farther out and Europa even farther west of Io. Over the approaching hours, Io and Callisto will transfer west in tandem, whereas Europa is shifting east. Round 6:40 A.M. EDT, Europa passes immediately north of Io and continues to shut in on the planet. Some two hours later, Europa passes immediately north of Callisto (far to its south); this occasion is seen solely to these within the western U.S., the place it’s nonetheless darkish.
By night, the Moon has moved into japanese Aries and stands with Uranus close to the Ram’s border with Taurus the Bull. Uranus, at magnitude 5.7, is finest seen with binoculars or a telescope. Look simply south of the Moon for a small, “flat” star with a grayish look. The planet’s tiny disk is simply 4″ throughout. A number of of Aries’ brighter stars — 4th-magnitude Delta (δ) Arietis and Fifth-magnitude Zeta (ζ) and Tau (τ) Arietis — additionally lie close by, forming a slight arch simply above (northwest of) the Moon.
Dawn: 7:26 A.M.
Sundown: 6:01 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:28 P.M.
Moonset: 8:21 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (99%)
Monday, October 30
Comet C/2023 H2 (Lemmon) is magnitude 9 and brightening nonetheless because it prepares to go closest to Earth subsequent month. Tonight, the comet flies inside 1° of 2nd-magnitude Alkaid, the star on the very finish of the Large Dipper’s deal with.
There’s a brief darkish window for to catch the pair after sundown however earlier than the Moon rises. Wait about an hour after sundown, then find the Large Dipper and level binoculars or a telescope on the final star in its deal with. Comet Lemmon lies only a tad lower than 1° to the star’s northeast early within the night and is touring almost due east, pulling away from the star over time. It ought to seem as a delicate, fuzzy ball of sunshine in contrast with the brilliant pinprick of the close by star.
Relying in your latitude, you might be able to catch the star and comet all evening lengthy, watching it swing low into the sky and start rising once more within the early-morning hours of the thirty first. Sadly, the brilliant gibbous Moon will throw its gentle throughout the sky and make the faint, fuzzy comet that a lot tougher to identify. Nonetheless, with such an easy-to-find signpost to find Lemmon within the sky, it’s definitely price giving it a attempt!
Dawn: 7:27 A.M.
Sundown: 6:00 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:05 P.M.
Moonset: 9:36 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (96%)
Tuesday, October 31
What could make stars within the sky merely disappear? Darkish nebulae! These chilly clouds of dust and gasoline take up and block the sunshine of stars behind them, showing to blot out the background and virtually trying like gashes, gouges, or holes within the sky.
This Halloween evening, let’s seek out a big, well-known darkish nebula: Barnard 168, generally referred to as the Darkish Cigar. It’s situated in Cygnus close to the Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146). This 12′-wide nebula glows at magnitude 7.2 and is situated about 12.5° east-northeast of the constellation’s sensible alpha star, Deneb. You’ll discover this star excessive within the northern sky an hour after sundown, far above the upside-down Little Dipper, the top of whose deal with is marked by the North Star, Polaris.
When you’ve discovered the Cocoon with binoculars or a small scope, look simply to its west and also you’ll see what seems to be a protracted, darkish “tear” within the sky the place no stars are seen. That is the Darkish Cigar nebula, the place chilly dust blocks the celebrities past. Some observers even think about the Cocoon as the top of a comet, with the darkish nebula stretching out as its tail.
Dawn: 7:28 A.M.
Sundown: 5:59 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:48 P.M.
Moonset: 10:47 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (90%)
Wednesday, November 1
Asteroid 4 Vesta is stationary at midnight EDT. This Eighth-magnitude main-belt asteroid needs to be a prepared goal in both binoculars or any telescope, situated amid the ft of Gemini the Twins.
That is additionally the place the waning gibbous Moon sits tonight. Luna is situated some 9° north-northwest of Vesta. For a better landmark, Vesta lies simply over 1° southeast of 4th-magnitude Nu (ν) Geminorum.
Rising to Gemini’s southwest (proper on the sky) is the mighty hunter Orion, whose three-star belt is among the most recognizable star patterns within the sky. In some depictions, Orion is pointing a curved bow upward on the V-shaped face of Taurus the Bull, whose red-hued eye is marked by the brilliant star Aldebaran. Above that’s the Pleiades open cluster, a gaggle of vibrant stars readily seen to the bare eye. Some observers suppose the Pleiades seems to be like a miniature Little Dipper, relying on what number of stars they will see and the way clearly they seem.
Dawn: 7:29 A.M.
Sundown: 5:58 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:39 P.M.
Moonset: 11:52 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (83%)
Thursday, November 2
Saturn’s brightest moon, Titan, passes south of the planet late this night and into the early-morning hours of the Third, because the planet is setting. You possibly can catch the ringed planet within the south just a few hours after sundown, glowing at magnitude 0.7 in Aquarius. The closest vibrant star is Third-magnitude Deneb Algedi in Capricornus, about 6.5° to Saturn’s southwest.
By a telescope, the planet’s rings look magnificent. They’re tilted about 10.5° with respect to our line of sight and stretch roughly 40″ throughout. A number of small, faint moons cluster across the planet. Most readily seen are three Tenth-magnitude moons: Dione to Saturn’s northeast, Tethys to the northwest, and Rhea farther west.
Enceladus, round magnitude 11.7, comes out of the planet’s shadow to Saturn’s east round 9:30 P.M. EDT. It may be seen in bigger scopes or, extra probably, in images or high-speed video, as its proximity to the brilliant rings will make it troublesome to visually detect.
Eighth-magnitude Titan, the star of the saturnian present, lies southeast of the planet within the night. It’s slowly shifting west to go south of the gas giant round 3 A.M. EDT on the Third. Right now, Saturn could have set for the japanese half of the U.S., however these in western time zones might be able to catch the massive moon at some extent due south of the planet earlier than the world sinks beneath the western horizon.
Dawn: 7:30 A.M.
Sundown: 5:57 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:37 P.M.
Moonset: 12:47 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (75%)
Friday, November 3
Jupiter takes middle stage on the finish of the week because the gas giant reaches opposition at 1 A.M. EDT this morning.
Opposition is when a planet sits immediately reverse the Solar within the sky from Earth, which means our planet is immediately between the Solar and that planet. It’s when a planet seems to be finest within the sky and is the best time to view it.
As you may recall from earlier this week, our solar system’s largest planet blazes away, dominating southern Aries within the early-morning hours because the constellation slowly units within the west. The planet reached its opposition magnitude of –2.9 not way back — that is the brightest it should get this yr, and it far outshines any of Aries’ stars. By a telescope, the planet’s disk spans 49″.
You’ll discover that, beginning simply after 5:30 A.M. EDT, a tiny level of sunshine and an accompanying shadow seem on the disk from the east, shifting west. That is the moon Io and its shadow — at opposition, the moons and their shadows transit collectively, making them virtually indistinguishable. The transit lasts simply over two hours, ending round 6:40 A.M. CDT, after the Solar has risen and Jupiter has set within the Japanese time zone, however in twilight or darkness for the remainder of the U.S. Throughout the transit, Ganymede stands closest to Jupiter off its japanese limb, with Europa farther east. Callisto lies alone to the planet’s west.
Due to the celestial geometry of opposition, Jupiter is seen all morning till about dawn; will probably be seen once more all evening beginning round sundown. We’ll choose it up once more within the night at first of subsequent week’s column for much more from the Galilean moons.
Dawn: 7:31 A.M.
Sundown: 5:56 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:38 P.M.
Moonset: 1:33 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (66%)
Sky This Week is dropped at you partly by Celestron.
