Sky Excitement for October

Photo Credit  Jeff DeTray

In 2023, the Orionids will peak on the night between Oct 21–22 October.  Meteor Shower Orionids are active every year in October, usually peaking around October 20/21. At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour. They are the second meteor shower of the month—the Draconids usually peak around October 7 or 8.  In all, there are 7 meteor showers in October.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solar Eclipse, October 14

In Mexico, the eclipse will be at its maximum phase in the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche. The cities of Campeche and Chetumal will offer budding astronomers the best chance to experience the eclipse in full.   In most parts of the country, people will see a partial solar eclipse visible at different times, from 8:09 a.m. to 2:17 p.m. local time.   For those wanting to watch directly, experts recommend always looking through safe solar viewing glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zodiacal Light

The weeks around the September equinox are the best time to see a hazy pyramid of light in the sunrise (Northern Hemisphere) or sunset (Southern Hemisphere) direction. Watch for this light – called the zodiacal light – before dawn breaks in the north, or when all traces of evening twilight have left the sky in the south. Read more here,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Michael Flynn captured this image on February 19, 2023, near Pine Mountain Club, California. He wrote: “The zodiacal light over the Pacific … at the top of the image is the Pleiades star cluster. At the bottom of the image are the planets Jupiter and Venus setting into the light pollution and marine layer.”