The month of October is full of celestial surprises. From the 'ring of fire' solar eclipse to the Hunter's Moon, the month will be sky-gazer's delight. Mark your calendars for these six upcoming astronomical events.
Draconid Meteor Shower, also called the Giacobinds, is a rare sight in a sense that its radiant point stands highest in the sky as darkness falls. This is why the best time to see it is in the evening hours.
This annular eclipse is the second of three notable solar eclipses viewable from the USA. It follows the 'Great American' total eclipse of August 2017 and comes six months before the Mexico-US-Canada total eclipse of April 2024.
The new moon appears when the sun and moon are aligned, with the sun and earth on opposite sides of the moon. The best time to see the new moon will vary based on time zone.
The Orionids will be the second meteor shower in October. The shower peaks on October 21-22 but usually remains active between October 2 and November 7. The best time to see these shooting stars is between midnight and sunrise.
This partial lunar eclipse will be part of the Hunter's Moon which will be visible from Europe, Africa and Asia. The eclipse can be found between the curvature of the shadow's path and the apparent rotation of the moon's disk (which occurs due to its rotation).
The October Full Moon is traditionally called the Hunter's Moon. October is a time to start preparing for the coming winter by hunting or slaughtering animals and preserving meat and this is where the name Hunter's Moon comes from.