October 2023 offers a celestial treat with a notable “ring of fire” solar eclipse, captivating alignments of planets, and NASA’s launch of the Psyche mission to investigate a unique asteroid.
What are some skywatching highlights in October 2023?
A “ring of fire” solar eclipse across the Americas on October 14 is this month’s top highlight! Plus the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus strike some lovely poses for stargazers and planet watchers to enjoy.
What to Look For:
A partial solar eclipse! Viewers within a narrow swath across the Americas will delight at a “ring of fire” eclipse of the Sun on October 14, while the Moon and planets strike some dazzling poses in the October sky.
October skywatching highlights:
- October 2 – The Moon rises a couple of hours after sunset, appearing super close to the Pleiades star cluster. Look for them low in the east after around 10 p.m., then they travel across the sky together all night.
- October 3 – In the predawn sky, the Moon appears a couple of finger widths apart from the Pleiades. Look for them high in the southwest, flanked by Jupiter and the bright, red giant star Aldebaran in Taurus
- October 10 – On October 10th, look for Venus in the east before sunrise, accompanied by a slim crescent Moon. In between them, spot the bright heart of Leo the lion, bluish-white star Regulus.
- October 14 – Annular eclipse of the Sun – Along a path about 125 miles wide, the Sun will appear as a narrow ring of light, often called a “ring of fire.”
- The path of this partial eclipse sweeps across the Americas, beginning in Southern Canada and crossing the Western U.S., before moving across Central and South America.
- Outside the annular eclipse path, those within the viewing zone will still see a partial eclipse.
- The maximum amount of the Sun that will be covered by the Moon depends on your location.
- October 14 – New moon
- October 23 – Look toward the south an hour or two after sunset to find the Moon, about 70% illuminated, hanging just beneath the planet Saturn. Their close proximity in the sky will make for some easy telescope viewing of these two skywatching favorites.
- October 24 – Find the Moon hanging just to the east of the planet Saturn tonight.
- October 28 – Full moon – The full moon rises together with planet Jupiter tonight. These are two of the brightest objects in the sky, and seeing them so close should make for quite an impressive sight.
Sky chart showing The Moon appearing very close to the Pleiades star cluster on the night of October 2. Credit: NASA
Video Transcript
What’s Up for October? Some great Moon-and-planet pairings, a mission to a metal-rich world, and a partial eclipse of the Sun.
On October 2nd, the Moon rises a couple of hours after sunset, appearing super close to the Pleiades star cluster. Look for them low in the east after around 10pm. They travel across the sky together that night, leaving another opportunity to see them the following morning. In the predawn sky on October 3rd, the Moon appears a couple of finger widths apart from the Pleiades, having moved a bit in its orbit around Earth during the night. Look for them high in the southwest, flanked by Jupiter and the bright, red giant star Aldebaran in Taurus.
On October 10th, look for Venus in the east before sunrise, accompanied by a slim crescent Moon. And in between them, the bright heart of Leo the lion, bluiush-white star Regulus.
On October 23rd, look toward the south an hour or two after sunset to find the Moon, about 70% illuminated, hanging just beneath the planet Saturn. Their close proximity in the sky will make for some easy telescope viewing of these two skywatching favorites. The following evening, the Moon will still be nearby, having moved to the east of Saturn.
Sky chart showing the Moon hanging beneath Saturn in the night sky on October 23. Credit: NASA
The full moon on October 28th rises together with planet Jupiter. These are two of the brightest objects in the sky, and seeing them so close should make for quite an impressive sight.
When you gaze up at Venus, Mars, Mercury (or even down at Earth beneath your feet), do you ever wonder how these planets formed out of stardust? That’s how planetary scientists think, too. And this month, NASA’s launching a spacecraft to seek new insights into how the “terrestrial” planets developed. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is planned to launch in October on its multi-year journey to an asteroid of the same name. It’s the first mission to a metal-rich asteroid, which could be part of the interior of a planetesimal – a building block of a rocky planet.
Asteroid Psyche could also turn out to be a different kind of iron-rich object that’s not been seen before. Whatever its story turns out to be, it’s hoped the mission might show us how Earth’s core and the cores of the other terrestrial planets came to be.
On October 14th, skywatchers in the Americas will have an opportunity to see a special type of solar eclipse called an annular eclipse. Along a path about 125 miles wide, the Sun will appear as a narrow ring of light, which is often called a “ring of fire.” This narrow circle shape is also known as an annulus, giving this type of eclipse its name.
A map of the U.S. showing the path of the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023. Inside the path of annularity, the Sun appears as a narrow ring of light at the peak of the eclipse. Outside the path of annularity, observers will see a partial eclipse. The maximum amount of the Sun that will be covered by the Moon depends on observing location. Lines on the map indicate the percentage of the Sun eclipsed by the Moon at the eclipse peak. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Solar eclipses happen when the Moon comes between Earth and the Sun, and covers at least part of the Sun in the sky. When the Moon covers the Sun completely, we get to observe a total eclipse. But sometimes the Moon is a bit farther away in its orbit when an eclipse happens, making it look a little smaller in the sky, and just a bit too small to completely cover the Sun. When that happens, it enables us to see an annular eclipse.
The path of this partial eclipse sweeps across the Americas, beginning in Southern Canada and crossing the Western U.S., before moving across Central and South America. Outside the annular eclipse path, those within the viewing zone will still see a partial eclipse. The maximum amount of the Sun that will be covered by the Moon depends on your location.
Now, eclipse fans won’t have to wait long for more excitement. Next April, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the U.S. Check out NASA’s eclipse resources online for info about both eclipses, where they’ll be visible, and tips for safe viewing.
Here are the phases of the Moon for October.
The phases of the Moon for October 2023. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
I sacrifice…
recently encouraged my daughter in law to invest in a telescope to get her daughter involved in star gazing,the little one was super excited on her first watch,hooked ever since.
Please tell her NOT to look at the eclipse with a telescope!
Without very specialized sun filters on the telescope, the sun’s rays, even during a near-total eclipse, will be like taking a powerful laser to her retinas.
Please impress upon her to not bring the telescope outside that day.
Good advice, Jim.
Looking forward to seeing this eclipse!!😎
I love to see things like that it excites me I get to learn something every time the eclipse comes and we get a full new moon can wait so we can’t use telescopes I read it on one of your comments we’ll see what happens thank you
I’ve watched the the sky,moon and constellations all my life!! They are brilliant on a normal night..and the moon it just hypnotizes me!! Love it!! 💫🪐☄️🌘🌌
Please make sure you don’t look at the eclipse through your telescope without special fliters… don’t even bring it outside no matter what Biden & Corn Pop tell you to do !
One of bidens many imaginary friends that also gives away what a bigot he is . He also told barac Obama if he didn’t watch out he would put them all back in chains on live television .can’t remember if he knew the microphone was hot or not.he thinks his little insane fantasys make people like him
If I were to be myself? Could you get tired of me asking a question?
I could answer every single question you ask.
An addition to the waste we pay to.
In each day. God. God. Describes me. I am only a definition?
Ok. I get wasted cause I don’t want to deal with myself tonight?
I hope you are going to notice. I am to be named. Speak in silence. What’s inside of the silence?
That’s me. I am in the silence. Can you see?
I can’t see silence.
Movement. Walk on chicken.
Yeah, thanks I am a child of God.
Thankful for my Dad? Reference? False. Questions. Ok. I found tomorrow ᕦ(ಠ_ಠ)ᕤ
Wow, amazing work. 👏
Wow, amazing work. 👏
Great 😎 I wanna watch it 😍
Thanx
Biden and Corn Pop? Lol! Who’s corn pop?
Haha
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I enjoy watching such things as nature really is a wonder. Looking forward to the ring of fire if at all I shall even have a glimpse of it from my location
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It was the former guy who looked up at the eclipse Max. DUH!
Nice. I hope to catch it.
Max, it was the disgraced, twice impeached, one-term, four-time indicted, grifting liar, malignant narcissist (according to over 70 mental health professionals) ex-president who should’ve never, ever held the highest office in the land.
Thank you for injecting some intelligence here, Veronica.
Born in October and Libra is my 🌟 star 19 the events are all prior to my date of birth which is 19 any news on this day
Respected All,
The water evaporating then humidity not increasing!? Any how read my words mentioned below please.
The wild life talked with me the jangles the plants the animals and the birds etc.
I can understand their emotions their requirements…..
Even they living on ground or in the water…..
Right now they’r facing the same…..
We have our world only number everywhere the same. our computers super computers required low temperature and other safeties etc. The nature behaviours are also same plants animals earth sea rivers facing different but problems. This is only because of plus minus.
Threats to the diversity of life on Earth. My vision is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.
I seek to save a planet, a world of life. Reconciling the needs of human beings and the needs of others that share the Earth, I seek to practice conservation that is humane in the broadest sense. I seek to instill in people everywhere a discriminating, yet unabashed, reverence for nature and to balance that reverence with a profound belief in human possibilities. From the smallest community to the largest multinational organization (UNO & UNOV along with European Union and WWF) and many more) I seek to inspire others who can advance the cause of conservation.
I seek to be the voice for those creatures who have no voice. I speak for their future. I seek to apply the wealth of our talents, knowledge, and passion to making the world wealthier in life, in spirit, and in living wonder of nature.
Summer, winter, autumn, spring, these fourteen combinations have been mixed together. These are basically the four seasons mentioned above. Mathematical binary actuation I mentioned in this email.
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Big Issues:-
Part # 1.
Environment
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Plants
Part # 2.
Human
Sami conductors
Space
Sun
Moon
Earth
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Master Multiple Knowledge and Researcher.
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There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
What is going on with some of these comments I thought I was reading about the eclipse?? Do you just allow anyone to type anything?? I’m so confused. Stay on point. This is supposed to be an article about the eclipse.
Thank you!!! I was thinking the same thing!!!
Yo wish I could see in Australia