Welcome back to another year of Under the Night Sky! As we kick-off a new school year, the night sky is starting off with a bang. The universe has decided to throw its own party in the night sky over the coming two weeks. So, whether you are a certified night owl procrastinating your homework or an early bird stepping outside for that freezing morning walk to school, the solar system is putting on a stellar lineup of cosmic events. From high-speed space junk burning up in our atmosphere to planets playing tag with the Moon, you won’t even need an expensive telescope to catch the best seats in the house. So, clear your schedules, put on your warmest hoodie, and keep your fingers crossed for clear skies. Here is your ultimate guide to what’s going on up there over the next two weeks.
Galactic Warmup – 15th of October
If you like the idea of looking millions of years into the past without building a time machine, the middle of the month has you covered. As twilight fades from warm sunset orange into a deep dark night, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) floats into its best viewing spot high overhead. At a casual 2.5 million light-years away, it is the absolute furthest object you can spot using nothing but your own two eyes. If you head away from the light pollution, look toward the constellation Andromeda, and you will catch a soft, ghostly smudge hovering in the dark. If you can get your hands on a pair of binoculars, that quiet blur will transform into a giant spiral galaxy packed with roughly a trillion stars. To spot it fast, just find the massive square of Pegasus and point your eyes slightly towards the big “W” shape of Cassiopeia. It is the most perfect low-effort, high-reward excuse to step outside and stare into the deep cosmos.
Halley’s Comet Leftovers – 21st/22nd of October
If staying up until 4:00 a.m. sounds like a terrible life choice, this is the one night where it will actually pay off. Overnight on October 21st into the morning of the 22nd, the Earth will plow directly into a trail of cosmic dust left behind by Halley’s Comet, triggering the annual Orionid meteor shower. These tiny bits of comet debris will slam into our upper atmosphere at an incredible 66 km per second, vaporizing into bright fast-moving shooting stars. While a bright waxing moon will try to ruin the party earlier in the evening, it will set a few hours before dawn, leaving behind a pitch-black canvas. The hours right before sunrise will deliver up to 20 meteors per hour that will radiate from the constellation Orion. For prime viewing, escape any light pollution, drag a cozy blanket to a dark spot, lie down and watch the sky light up.
Saturn’s Sidekick Moment – 23rd of October
For anyone who prefers their astronomy viewed at a reasonable time, this night will bring a classic planetary meet-up right after dark. Look toward the southern horizon shortly after sunset to find the ringed gas giant Saturn hanging around directly to the left of the nearly full Moon. These two celestial heavy-hitters will sit close enough together to create an eye-catching cosmic twin act that you can’t miss. While it looks awesome with the naked eye, pulling out binoculars will reveal Saturn’s unique yellowish glow parked right next to the shadowed craters of the lunar edge. The pair will slowly drift across the night sky together before dipping below the horizon late at night.
Mountain Spotlight – 25th of October
As we approach the weekend, the Moon will decide to drop off subtly and swell into its full, blinding glory. Rising over the Alps right around sunset, this bright October full moon will turn the night sky into a giant stadium light, soaking the surrounding mountains in a brilliant silver glare. Sure, its intense natural light will completely erase space blurs like nebulae and distant galaxies from view, but the Moon itself will put on a great show. Positioned near Taurus the Bull, it casts dramatic shadows and lights up the landscape for late night strolls. If you grab a pair of binoculars, you will easily be able to see the massive white splash marks spreading out from giant impact craters like Tycho. It acts like a giant, glowing billboard in the sky, proving that sometimes the simplest stargazing targets are still the coolest.
The Great Star Snatch – 27th of October
The undisputed main event of the whole fortnight lands on the night of October 27th, when the moon will literally run over a famous star cluster. In a rare cosmic game of hide-and-seek known as occultation, the bright lunar disk will pass directly in front of the pale-blue Pleiades star cluster, also known as the “Seven Sisters”. You will be able to watch this in real time as the Moon’s bright edge swallows up the individual blue stars one by one, only for them to pop back out on the dark side a short while later. The whole spectacle will begin during the evening and play out across several hours, creating a slow-motion drama that looks incredible. While the Pleiades cluster is home to hundreds of young, glittering stars, the lineup changes every few minutes. It’s easily one of the most exciting astronomical moments of the year, so make sure not to miss it!
Red Eye in the Night – 29th of October
To wrap up these action-packed weeks, the Moon will slide away from the Pleiades and cozy up right beside Aldebaran, the angry red eye of Taurus the Bull. This close lineup will serve as a fantastic color battle in the eastern sky right after dark, contrasting the crisp white reflection of the Moon with the warm, fiery orange glow of the giant star. Aldebaran is an absolute monster of a star, it’s an aging cosmic giant that has grown to be up to dozens of times the size of our Sun and sits roughly 65 light-years away from us. Watching this colorful duo hang out together in the autumn air is the perfect way to wind down the month. Grab a warm cup of tea, wrap yourself in a heavy jacket, and celebrate our universe by taking one look at our breathtaking sky.