Five night sky events to look forward to this autumn

As autumn arrives in the northern hemisphere, the lengthening nights provide excellent opportunities for stargazing. Over the coming months, skywatchers can look forward to several astronomical events including notable meteor showers and striking celestial alignments. The season kicks off with the visibility of the Pleiades star cluster, followed by the Orionid meteor shower later in October. November promises a planetary parade, the Leonid meteor shower, and the appearance of a supermoon.

The Pleiades, also referred to as the Seven Sisters, is a well-known cluster of young stars located approximately 440 light years from Earth. Although the cluster’s name suggests seven stars, most observers can typically identify about six with the naked eye. Using binoculars or telescopes can reveal many more members of this stellar group. During the autumn evenings, the Pleiades can be spotted in the eastern part of the sky within the constellation Taurus, becoming more prominent as the nights grow longer.

The Orionid meteor shower, visible from early October through November, reaches its peak around 21 October. This shower occurs as Earth passes through dust and debris trails left by Halley’s comet. The fast-moving particles heat up upon entering the atmosphere, creating bright streaks of light. Named for the constellation Orion from which the meteors appear to radiate, the shower is best observed from a dark location, away from artificial lighting, with eyes given ample time to adjust to the darkness.

In mid-November, observers might witness a rare gathering of four planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter—above the horizon shortly before sunrise. While Mercury will be difficult to see due to its proximity to the rising Sun, Venus and Jupiter are among the brightest celestial bodies and should be relatively easy to spot. Later in November, the Leonid meteor shower takes center stage, peaking around the 17th. Known for meteors that travel at speeds near 70 km per second, the Leonids can produce around 10 to 15 meteors per hour under dark and favorable viewing conditions. This shower appears to originate from the constellation Leo, with the best viewing times occurring after midnight until dawn.

Finally, November’s full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, brings a special treat as it coincides with a supermoon on 24 November. The name “Beaver Moon” likely derives from the period when beavers are highly active, preparing for the coming winter. A supermoon happens when the full Moon is near its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. This event marks the first in a series of four supermoons that will continue through February 2027, offering a spectacular sight for autumn night sky enthusiasts

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More