Whats Up Skywatching Highlights for October 2022? Nights with giants, Mars changes course, and meteors from Orion.
What are some skywatching highlights in October 2022?
Enjoy huge worlds Jupiter and Saturn all night throughout the month. Then view as Mars starts its retrograde motion, moving westward each night instead of eastward, for the next few months. Lastly, inspect out the Orionid meteors over night on October 20.
Whats Up for October? Evenings with giants, Mars changes course, and meteors from Orion.
See as Mars begins its retrograde movement, moving westward each night rather of eastward, for the next few months. At the end of October, Mars halts this evident movement, and then appears to reverse course. That Mars appears to alter its direction is an impression triggered by the movements of our world in its orbit passing by the Red Planet in its orbit.
Sky chart showing the course of Mars over a number of months in 2022 and 2023, as it goes into, then exits, retrograde motion. Mars appears to change its instructions of motion on the sky since Earth is passing the slower-moving Red Planet in its orbit.
Giant planets Jupiter and Saturn are noticeable throughout the night in October. Early at night, youll find them to the southeast, moving slowly westward with the stars throughout the night. They form a triangle with the bright star Fomalhaut.
When observing this trio, note how the planets shine with a consistent light, while the star sparkles. This can be a simple way to know if what youre taking a look at is a star or a planet.
Sky chart revealing Jupiter and Saturn early at night in October. The worlds form a triangle with bright star Fomalhaut. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mars has been steadily working its way towards the east all year like it normally does, relative to the background stars. At the end of October, Mars stops this evident movement, and then appears to reverse course. Over the next 3 months, from November to late January, Mars moves toward the west each night. Then near the end of January, it reverses direction once again, and continues its eastward journey.
This is whats called the retrograde motion of Mars. It happens about every 2 years, and it actually threw early observers for a loop. That Mars appears to alter its instructions is an illusion triggered by the motions of our world in its orbit going by the Red Planet in its orbit.
Sky chart revealing the course of Mars over numerous months in 2022 and 2023, as it goes into, then exits, retrograde motion. Mars appears to alter its direction of movement on the sky due to the fact that Earth is passing the slower-moving Red Planet in its orbit. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
See, Earth and Mars are on these approximately circular paths around the Sun, like automobiles on a racetrack, and Earth is on the inner, much faster track. About every 26 months, we surpass Mars, which is moving slower in its orbit. Throughout that duration when were passing Mars, and prior to we round the bend in our orbit to retreat from it, we see Mars in retrograde, appearing to alter instructions, even though its still moving on in its orbit..
Take note of Mars over the next couple of months, as it appears to reverse course. Keep in mind how its position modifications with regard to Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, and the Pleiades over the weeks, and youll be seeing what was as soon as a source of intense curiosity for astronomers, but which we now understand is simply an indication of 2 worlds passing in the night.
The Orionid meteor shower is active throughout October and November, and peaks on the night of October 20. Its a moderate shower, usually producing 10-20 meteors per hour at its peak, under clear, dark skies.
The showers name comes from the truth that you can trace the paths of its meteors back to an area on the sky near Orion. These meteors are pieces of dust left by Comet Halley in a path that extends along its orbit. They tend to be bright and fast-moving, and they frequently leave relentless tracks that can radiance in the sky for a few seconds after they streak by..
No special equipment is required to observe meteor showers. Just make sure youre warm enough, and seeing from a safe, dark spot far from brilliant lights. Then all you need to do is search for and delight in the show.