There are many astrological events taking place this month. They will be visible all around the globe, not just in certain places. Keep your eye out for these gold-”star” events!

Recently, on October 8th and 9th, the Draconids Meteor Shower was very active. In the early evening was the best chance to see these meteors, in a dark location with minimal light pollution. There was no need for binoculars or telescopes; the meteors were visible to the naked eye!

On October 14th, there was a solar eclipse. In New Jersey, there was a 20-30% maximum obscuration of the sun during the eclipse. The best viewing was just after noon on the 14th. Those of us who took the advice to not look directly at the solar eclipse and used hand-held viewers were treated with a spectacular show.

On October 20th to 21st there was another meteor shower, called the Orionids Meteor Shower. It is considered the most beautiful meteor shower of the year. The meteors derive from Halley’s Comet. In a moonless sky, there will be 23 meteors per hour. The best viewing will be after midnight and away from any light sources. Allow your eyes to adapt to the dark and you will begin to see the meteors.

On October 23rd, Venus will be at its greatest elongation. This will allow Venus to be bright and visible to us on Earth. The best time to see the second planet will be around 7pm, but it should be visible for most of the day, barring any cloudy skies.

There will be a partial lunar eclipse on October 28th. In New Jersey, it will begin around 3:30pm. It will not be very noticeable, but it will still be visible. It will only last about four hours, but it is still something to look out for.

Lastly, you will be able to see Jupiter all night long in the beginning of November. Saturn should also be visible. From 5:54pm on the 2nd, to 7:32am on the 3rd, Jupiter will be perfectly visible. On the 3rd at 3:01pm, to the 4th at 1:36am, Saturn will also be perfectly visible. While Saturn is a beautiful planet to see, this is the brightest Jupiter has been and will be for the year of 2023. 

October is a packed month with many different astronomical events, including two meteor showers. These events are worth seeing, even if you are not interested in space. Taking a moment to look upward at night could open your eyes to immense beauty.