5 astronomical events to look out for this October + a special viewing event

space and rocket center, astronaut, space suit — You may not get as close to these events as an astronaut, but they’re just as beautiful from down on Earth. (Audrey Johnson / Hville Blast)

Happy October, Huntsville! There are several astronomical events to look forward to this month, including the last annular solar eclipse until next year. Check out what will be happening in the sky this October:

1. Draconids meteor shower — Sunday, Oct. 8

draconid meteor shower astronomical events — Keep your eye on the highest point in the evening sky. (“10-OCT-2018 Draconid” by ikewinski is licensed under CC BY 2.0)

The Draconids are a unique spectacle in that most meteors in this shower will fall in the evening before midnight — most meteor showers tend to fall after midnight. The Draconids aren’t usually known for producing a massive number of meteors, but there is always a rare chance that there will be an influx of meteors within a single hour.

2. Solar eclipse — Saturday, Oct. 14

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This solar eclipse will only be visible to the South and Central America, Mexico and North America. It is known as an annular — or ring-shaped — eclipse, as the Moon will pass between the Sun and Earth, creating a “ring of fire” in the sky.

Be sure to wear eye protection and attend the free FTTP viewing event at 10:30AM on the UAH campus and see this astronomical event with friends!

3. Orionid meteor shower — Saturday, Oct. 21

The Orionid meteor has been active since late September, but its peak is predicted to be on the night of October 21. Don’t worry if you miss it, though — you may be able to catch sight of a few meteors until November 22.

4. Venus will be visible — Monday, Oct. 23

Venus will be at its highest point in the eastern sky starting October 23 and will be visible before sunrise. Afterwards, the bright planet will descend by a small amount every day until the end of the year.

5. Hunter’s full moon — Saturday, Oct. 28

photo of full moon — A full moon is always a dazzling astronomical event. (Photo by Simon Moore on Unsplash)

While a full moon is more common than the previous events, it’s nonetheless still a beautiful spectacle. The Hunter’s Moon is the full moon that follow’s the Harvest Moon, which was visible last month.

If you’re able to see any of these astronomical events and get some pictures, we would love to see them! Share your pictures on social media and tag us or DM us at @hvilleblast.

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