By Melanie McQuigg
Happy Halloween! Sadly, this spooky night will not be illuminated by a full moon, but there’s no doubt that plenty of creepy creatures (and celestial events!) will be out and about. As we head into the month of November, the night sky will once again offer us some spectacular astronomical views, from a stunning planetary encounter to a rare spotting of an elusive planet. Mercury.
Saturday 1st of November – Mercury at its peak
Mercury is the planet closest to the sun, which means that it is often hidden by its giant neighbor’s glare; but soon the fastest of the planets will be visible once again. It is only visible for a few weeks each year, so this is a rare occasion. On this night, Mercury will be lower than has been at any give point this year and will shine brightly against the dusky sky, as Mercury will only be visible during or slightly after the sunset. You should be able to see it without any equipment but due to its low position, you may need a pair of binoculars.
Sunday 2nd of November – Moon and Saturn close together ?
On November 2nd, the Moon will be almost full and Saturn will be visible in the western sky. These two will appear very close together, but in reality they are separated by millions of kilometers. This night will be relatively clear, so this is the perfect time for good night sky viewing. For the best view, look for the Moon and see Saturn right above it.
Wednesday 5th of November – Supermoon
The full Beaver moon or also known as one of the yearly Supermoons will make its appearance Wednesday night. It was given the unique name of the ‘Beaver Moon’ due to its significance to Native American tribes in signalling when it was time to set their beaver traps (they are particularly present during this period). This will be incredibly impressive as this Moon will be 8% larger and 16% brighter than our Moon. You will definitely be able to see this impressive moon without any equipment.