By Neill Simmons
The highlight of October is the Orionid meteor shower which peaks on the nights of the 20th and 21st. These meteors are fast moving and leave a glowing trail. Sometimes, if you are lucky, there will be a fireball lasting over four seconds.
The Orionid meteor shower is caused by Earth’s passage through the debris stream left behind by the famous Halley’s Comet. Halley’s Comet was last visible in 1986 and will return in 2061. Find a location far from the city and street lights for best viewing and give your eyes time to adjust.
The full moon on Monday, October 6, is known as the Harvest Moon and the Hunter’s Moon. This event is special because it will be the year’s first Super Moon appearing larger and brighter than other full moons. A Super Moon occurs when it coincides with perigee—the closest point that the Moon comes to the Earth in its orbit. The full moons of November and December will also be Super Moons.
Big news out of NASA: A planned Moon mission with four astronauts is scheduled on February 5, 2026. On board will be the first woman to go to the Moon, Mission Specialist Christina Koch. This mission will be the first cleared flight to circle the Moon since the Apollo program’s final launch in 1972.
Upcoming crewed missions include NASA’s Artemis program, with Artemis III planned to return humans to the lunar surface in 2027. The focus of this mission will be to study the Lunar South Pole. Each year, NASA adds 10 new recruits who will be trained to be future astronauts. These 10 are chosen from over 8,000 applicants. Six women and four men were added this year.
Last bit of NASA news: It was recently announced that over 6,000 exoplanets have been discovered to date. An exoplanet is essentially a planet, but one that orbits a star other than our own Sun.
The constellation of Cassiopeia, the Queen, is visible this month in the northeast sky. Cassiopeia was one of the 48 constellations detailed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE. The constellation is most notable because of its W shape, which is said to represent the Queen sitting on her throne.
Look to the west, near the sunset direction, to find Mercury shortly after dark. Mercury will be near Mars with the two planets being closest on October 20th and 21st. Due to its lack of atmosphere and proximity to the Sun, Mercury experiences the most extreme temperature fluctuations in the solar system, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 800°F and nighttime temperatures dropping to -300°F.
If you are planning a trip to Rome, Italy, an unique and interesting place to visit is the Vatican Observatory located at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, just outside of Rome. It is one of the oldest active astronomical observatories in the world, with its roots going back to 1582. The Vatican Observatory and the Vatican Museums have developed a visitors’ center and now offer tours to the telescopes atop the Papal Palace as an option for those touring the Palace and Secret Garden. If you can’t make it to Rome, there is a Vatican Observatory located in Safford, Arizona. Advanced reservations are required. For more information, check the website: vaticanobservatory.org.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 4 at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. There will be an “International Observe the Moon Star” party at 7 pm. Many telescopes will be available for viewing the night sky. Nights are starting to cool so dress accordingly. Observing area is gravel and dirt. Comfortable shoes are a must. This is a FREE event!
When not stargazing, Simmons, is an Investment Executive with LPL Financial. If you have any astronomy or financial questions, he may be reached at (818) 936-2626 or neill.simmons@lpl.com.
