astronomy

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By Claire Wardlaw

This Month Offers The Chance To See A Few Autumnal Constellations While The Summer Stars Are Still Visible

We will be able to look out for a great show from the Orion Meteor shower in favourable conditions, an annual visitor will return to our skies in the form of Comet 103P Hartley, and Jupiter will again be a constant presence in our night skies. Read on to find out how, where, and when to spot these and many other astronomical objects throughout the month of October. During the next few months we will be able to mark the change in seasons by the return of a few different constellations in our night sky. A few of the main ones to look out for will be:

Orion is returning to the eastern skies just after midnight. We will first be able to spot the bright orange star Betelgeuse on the left shoulder of the Hunter Orion. Gemini, or the Twins, will be found a little further to the northeast with the brightest stars of Castor and Pollux being first to clear the horizon.

Taurus is improving in its position throughout the month as it seems to lead Orion across the southern vista.

On the 2nd and 3rd, around 04h30, the waning gibbous Moon will seem to pass by Jupiter, Uranus, and The Pleiades. Look high in the sky to the south. At around 07h00 on the 7th the Moon will be positioned close to Castor and Pollux. This view will be found in a south easterly direction. On the 23rd and 24th Saturn will be positioned close to the Moon from around 23h00. Look towards the south west.

Comet 103P (Hartley) will, perhaps, be visible as it brightens in magnitude throughout the month. Depending on your specific location, its exact position in the night sky will vary slightly. Based on a Bordeaux position, the Comet will be seen passing through the constellation of Gemini, below the two bright stars Castor and Pollux. The distance of Comet 103P/Hartley from Earth, at time of going to print was 67,471,743 kilometres, equivalent to 0.451021 Astronomical

Units. Light takes 3 minutes and 45.0615 seconds to travel from Comet 103P/Hartley and arrive to us.

It is very difficult to predict the brightness and possible visibility of comets due their very dynamic behaviour, so keep your fingers crossed that it could become visible with at least binoculars!

The Moon phases and observation tips

Last Quarter Phase : 6th just before 15h00

New Moon Phase: 14th at around 19h00

First Quarter Phase: 22nd at 04h30

Full Moon: 28th around 21h30

The phases of the Moon are worth noting during the peak of the Orion Meteor shower. This falls on the 20th to the 22nd of the month. The Moon will show a 35% waxing phase on the 20th, a 46% waxing phase on the 21st, and a 58% phase on the 22nd. The Moon will set before the most favourable observing times for the Orionids so it will not brighten the sky too much.

The Planets this Month

Mercury will be best viewed in the first week of the month when it is a bright morning planet.

Venus is a wonderful sight now, a bright morning object, at it’s furthest from the Sun.

Mars is not visible this month.

Jupiter is very bright and very well positioned for observation and imaging, and will be very close to the Moon on the 2nd.

Saturn is looking good and can be found close to the moon on the 23rd and 24th.

Uranus will be close to the Moon on the 29th, so with a telescope it could be a great sight.

Claire Wardlaw, originally from Edinburgh, lives in the Charente with her husband. Since their move nearly 6 years ago, Claire has become passionate about astronomy