By Heather Durham | September 30, 2020
Hi everyone! This month we will have a blue moon on Halloween. A blue moon is named as such for it means the second occurrence of a full moon within any given month. Blue moons are relatively rare. The first moon following the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest moon. This year’s blue moon is referred to as the Hunter’s moon.
As well, this month we will be able to enjoy several meteor showers which are always a treat for our star gazers.
Now let’s delve into the details of astronomical events during October of this very strange and stressful year of 2020!
October 1. Mercury will orbit far away from the sun. Today, we will have a Full Moon known as the Harvest Moon for it is the first Full Moon to rise since the beginning of autumn.
October 2. The Moon and Mars will rise close to each other with the Moon passing just below Mars.
October 3. The Moon and Mars will make a close approach.
October 5. The October Cameloparalid meteor shower from the Constellation Draco will peak. (See 209P/LINEAR below).
October 6. Half of Mercury can be seen.
October 8. The Draconid meteor shower from the Constellation Draco will be at peak.
October 9. Today will bring the last quarter of the Harvest Moon.
October 10. The Southern Taurid meteor shower will peak today from the Constellation Cetus.
October 11. The Aurigid meteor shower from the Constellation Auriga will peak today.
October 13. Mars can be viewed from the Constellation Pisces. The Moon and Venus will rise and travel close to each other.
October 18. The Geminid meteor shower from the Constellation Gemini will peak today.
October 21. The Orionid meteor shower from the Constellation Orion will peak today.
October 22. The Moon and Jupiter will rise close to each other. The Moon and Saturn will rise.
October 23. The Moon and Saturn will rise in conjunction. The first quarter of the Blue Hunter’s Moon will be visible.
October 24. The Leonis Minorid meteor shower from the Constellation Leo Minor will peak today.
October 29. The Moon and Mars will rise and travel close to each other.
October 31 (Halloween). The Blue Hunter’s Moon will be full today. Splendid for Trick-or-Treat outings.
References:
In-the-Sky.org. (2020, September 27). Guides to the Night Sky. Retrieved from in-the-sky.org/
Marcels. (1961). Blue Moon. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0fy1HeJv80
Wikipedia. (2020, July 4). 209P/LINEAR. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/209P/LINEAR#Associated_meteor_showers
Wikipedia. (2020, April 22). Aurigids. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurigids
Wikipedia. (2020, June 19). Draconids. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draconids
Wikipedia. (2019, December 25). Geminids. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminids
Wikipedia. (2020, September 14). Harvest and Hunter’s Moons. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moon#Harvest_and_hunter’s_moons
Wikipedia. (2020, April 21). Leonis Minorids. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonis_Minorids
Wikipedia. (2020, August 13). Orionids. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orionids
Wikipedia. (2020, August 17). Taurids. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurids
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