Copyright © 1995–2014 by David Harper and L.M. StockmanDesigned and maintained by Obliquity
https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/archive/2014/oct2014.html
Last modified on 30 September 2014
Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events.
| Date | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday | First Quarter Moon |
| 2 | Thursday | |
| 3 | Friday | |
| 4 | Saturday | |
| 5 | Sunday | |
| 6 | Monday | Moon at perigee |
| 7 | Tuesday | Uranus at opposition |
| 8 | Wednesday | Full Moon in a total lunar eclipse |
| The Draconid meteor shower is obliterated by the Full Moon. | ||
| 9 | Thursday | |
| 10 | Friday | |
| 11 | Saturday | |
| 12 | Sunday | |
| 13 | Monday | |
| 14 | Tuesday | |
| 15 | Wednesday | Last Quarter Moon |
| 16 | Thursday | Mercury at inferior conjunction |
| 17 | Friday | |
| 18 | Saturday | Moon at apogee |
| 19 | Sunday | Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring will pass within 110,000 kilometres or 68,000 miles of the surface of Mars. That's less than a third of the distance between the Earth and Moon! This comet was discovered on 3 January 2013 by Robert H. McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia and assuming it survives its close encounter with the red planet, reaches perihelion on 25 October. |
| 20 | Monday | |
| 21 | Tuesday | Dark skies greet the Orionid meteor shower. |
| 22 | Wednesday | |
| 23 | Thursday | New Moon in a partial solar eclipse |
| 24 | Friday | |
| 25 | Saturday | Venus at superior conjunction |
| 26 | Sunday | |
| 27 | Monday | |
| 28 | Tuesday | |
| 29 | Wednesday | |
| 30 | Thursday | |
| 31 | Friday | The second Full Moon in a calendar month is popularly known as a 'Blue Moon', but what do you call the second First Quarter Moon in a calendar month? |
The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.
The Sun and Moon take part in two eclipses this month. Western North America, eastern Russia, northern Japan, New Zealand, eastern Australia and much of the Pacific Ocean will enjoy the complete total lunar eclipse whereas most of North America and eastern Russia will be able to catch a glimpse of the final eclipse of the season, a partial solar eclipse.
Mercury Virgo
Difficult to see from northern latitudes, observers in the southern hemisphere can see this tiny planet plunge towards the Sun early in the month as it heads for inferior conjunction on 16 October. However, the north will be rewarded with superior viewing opportunities later in the month when Mercury reappears in the morning sky ahead of the Sun.
The morning star vanishes this month as Venus reaches superior conjunction on 25 October. Northern hemisphere observers may see it near the eastern horizon early in the month but it soon disappears from view. It will reappear in the evening sky next month.
Mars Ophiuchus → Sagittarius
Mars may be found in the west after sunset but don't wait too long to see it as it sets soon after the Sun.
Still a morning sky object, the largest gas giant in the solar system rises at midnight by the end of the month.
Saturn Libra
The ringed planet is getting harder to see as it dips into the Sun's glare at sunset.
Uranus Pisces
At opposition on 7 October, this green-coloured ice giant is at its brightest. Look for it at any time of the night.
Neptune Aquarius
A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system. It does not set until after midnight.
Copyright © 1995–2014 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman