Meteor Shower. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
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This column was provided by San Benito County resident and amateur astronomer David Baumgartner as part of a local series on astronomy. Lea este articulo en español aqui.
Two of our Solar Systems smaller rocky planets pass by for a brief meeting on the 19th of this month. This conjunction of Mercury and Mars happens very quickly as they follow the sun setting in the southwest. Once you spot the two rocky planets you only have less than twenty minutes to enjoy this conjunction. From Mercury, scan 2° to the upper right to spot the dimmer Mars. On the 23 rd Mercury stands between the Red Planet and the Crescent Moon. Mercury is 4.5° northwest of the Moon; they are very low in the southwest and set by 7pm. The three should pose for a great photo opportunity.
While you are out there don’t forget to take a gander at one of the best views of all in the night sky. After the Sun sets you can’t miss this ringed planet in the eastern sky. Saturn will be showing off all night all this month. On October 5th Saturn will be 4° south of the nearly Full Moon. At this point Saturn stands some 816 million miles away. A telescope will show both hemispheres with the rings almost edge on.
One other event you might not want to miss is the Orionid Meteor Shower, showing off from Oct 5 to Nov 7 and peaking on Oct 21. This shower is known for its bright meteors that radiate from the constellation Orion. Under good conditions, clear skies and minimal light pollution, viewers can expect up to 20 meteors per hour in the predawn hours. You can view them before midnight but with less success. We have a new Moon on the 21st, so that should ensure dark skies. So, find yourself a dark location and enjoy the view.
A few years back I was at a Real Estate meeting up in Lake Tahoe. It was this time of the year so I expected to view the Orionid Showers that evening around three in the morning. But as I got ready for bed the clouds wandered in and blanketed the whole area, so I figured there would be no viewing of any showers this coming morning. So I went to bed without having to set the alarm for the early viewing.
Well it just so happened that I woke up from sleep around 3am and just by chance I took a peak out the window looking out over the parking lot. Before I closed the curtains to go back to bed I looked up to the sky in hopes there would be a chance of some clear skies. All of a sudden there was this bright streak of light in a small opening in the sky. That’s all it took for me to scramble to my closet to see what I could find to keep me somewhat warm out in the 30° temperature. I put on everything I had and still I figured that wouldn’t be enough to do the job. Then I remembered the huge white robe the hotel provided.
Well I’m sure you can imagine how wonderful I looked. But I figured I’ll be the only one out there, so it shouldn’t matter. I quietly opened the door to the hallway and looked down both ways, just to make sure no one would see me in my new attire; especially the other Realtors from my from my meeting all dressed up in the same fashion that I was wearing. I didn’t get embarrassed for I was laughing so hard, as were the ladies. I think we all laughed all the way down the twenty-seven floors.
We made it to the lobby and scooted outside before anyone could see us. We made it to the parking lot and what did we see but ten tiny reindeer (no, I’m sorry, that’s another story) but around twenty or so on lookers there for the same reason. The funny thing was they were all dressed up the same way we were. Here we all were standing in the snow looking like a bunch of snowmen. (And women)
I do have a point here; I have seen a number of fascinating events and wonderful sights through my telescope in the past, but I must admit that seeing the Orionids that night, after the skies opened up, in all their splendor, had to be on the top of my list of beautiful wonders. We were seeing two, three, and even four brilliant streaks at a time. All you could hear from the parking lot was,”Oh, there’s one.” “Oh my, God that is gorgeous!” You would hear someone yell out, “There’s one,” as they pointed to the skies location, everyone would quickly look over in that direction but to see that it had already vanished. You could hear someone say, “Where? I don’t see it”, as if it was going to wait for them as they looked over to see it.
Now I’m not saying that this is the abundance of meteor strikes we are going to see on the night of October 21st because each year you can count on that figure being different depending on many factors. (This is my way of saying I haven’t a clue what they are). One factor I am aware of is that the Moon won’t be one of them. And another one is being in town compared to viewing from out on the prairie away from the glaring lights of town could make a tremendous difference. So if you are blessed to see 20 meteors that night or 200 you will be satisfied because even seeing just one of those swift, bright meteors makes the whole evening/morning worth the whole outing.
So find your best darkest location, bring along some munches, warm clothing, a nice laidback chair and a friend or two, and enjoy seeing who can count the most meteor strikes. Most of all; have a safe and fun evening. Clear skies. Mr. B…
What’s up this month?
Oct 01 Moon passes 0.05° south of Pluto
Oct 02 Mercury passes 1.9° south of Spica
Oct 02 Dwarf planet Ceres is at opposition
Oct 05 Moon passes 4° north of Saturn
Oct 06 Moon passes 3° north of Jupiter
Oct 06 Full MoonOct 08 Moon is at perigee (223,581 miles from Earth)
Oct 10 Moon passes 5° north of Uranus
Oct 13 Last Quarter Moon
Oct 13 Moon passes 4° north of Jupiter
Oct 16 Moon passes 1.2° north of Regulus
Oct 19 Moon passes 4° south of Venus
Oct 21 Mercury passes 2° south of Venus
Oct 21 Orionid meteor shower peaks
Oct 21 New Moon
Oct 23 Moon passes 5° south of Mars
Oct 23 Moon passes 2° south of Mercury
Oct 23 Moon is at apogee (252,553 miles from Earth)
Oct 24 Moon passes 0.5° south of Antares
Oct 27 Moon passes 7° south of Pollux
Oct 29 Moon passes 0.1° north of Pluto
Oct 29 First Quarter Moon
Oct 31 Venus passes 4° north of SpicA
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