Tonights Sky:October 2014 Constellations, Deep-Sky Objects, Planets and Events Tonight’s Sky: October 2014 Your guide to constellations, deep-sky objects, planets and events, Tonights Sky, Highlights of the October Sky Evening Planets In early October, Saturn and Mars hang low over the southwestern horizon after sunset. Later in the month, Saturn descends quickly into the horizon, leaving Mars alone in the darkening sky. Constellations and Deep-Sky Objects Pegasus, the great winged horse of Greek mythology, prances across the autumn night sky. His body is denoted by a large area of stars known as the “Great Square.” Pegasus hosts 51-Pegasi, the first Sun-like star known to have an extra-solar planet. The brightest corner of the Great Square, Alpheratz, is also the brightest star in the constellation Andromeda. In Greek mythology, this princess was chained to a rock near the sea to appease a sea monster. Within Andromeda’s boundaries, look for M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, an island of billions of stars. On a clear, dark night it appears as a faint smudge of light. Approximately 2.5 million light-years away, M31 is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy and the most distant object you can see with your eyes alone. Binoculars and small telescopes reveal M31’s glowing nucleus and spiral arms. A smaller companion galaxy, M110, appears as a faint spot near the large galaxy. The Andromeda Galaxy is slowly pulling in, and will eventually consume, another one of its small companion galaxies, M32. Morning Planets Jupiter rises well after midnight to dominate the sky throughout the morning hours. Use binoculars or a small telescope to admire the giant planet’s features. Jupiter and the crescent Moon make a lovely pair on the morning of the 17th. During the last week of October, try to find elusive Mercury just above the eastern horizon before sunrise.Tonight’s Sky: October 2014 Events An interesting meteor shower peaks on the night of October 21st to 22nd. After midnight, look to the east, where the constellation Orion is rising. Every few minutes you may spy a tiny remnant of Halley’s Comet burning up high in the atmosphere. This is the Orionid meteor shower. On October 8th, a total lunar eclipse will be visible throughout most of North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. The Moon will darken as it passes through Earth’s shadow. Ending The night sky is always a celestial showcase. Explore its wonders from your own backyard. Credits Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, Office of Public Outreach Starfield images created with Stellarium Mythological constellation forms from Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia by Johannes Hevelius, courtesy of the United States Naval Mars image courtesy of Matt Wedel Saturn image courtesy of John Endreson Andromeda Galaxy (M31) image based on an image courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita Jupiter image courtesy of Todd Gross Mercury image courtesy of Mario Weigand Partial solar eclipse image courtesy of Franklin A. Holub Narrated by Nancy Calo Music written by Jonn Serrie Production Lucy Albert, Greg Bacon, John Blintz, John Godfrey and Vanessa Thomas ObservatoryTonight’s Sky: October 2014 hubblesite.org/ youtu.be/4TsAkGjXH1Q
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 04:15:28 +0000
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