I’m writing this from the beautiful southwest coast of Türkiye, gazing up at the night sky. It’s the 26th of September, 9 PM, and the temperature is a perfect 24°C. From here, Polaris sits about 18 degrees lower on the northern horizon than it does in Northern Ireland, so all the constellations have shifted. You can stargaze for hours under these crystal-clear skies without ever feeling cold. It’s such a unique experience—highly recommended for fellow stargazers!
Now, let’s see what October’s night sky has to offer. Spoiler: it’s going to be epic! We’ve got the biggest Supermoon of the year, meteor showers, and even a comet that we might spot with the naked eye!
First off, if you missed last month’s Supermoon, don’t worry—this month’s is going to be even better! In September, the full Moon was about 223,000 miles from Earth, which is considerably closer than the average (239,000 miles), making it a Supermoon. But October’s full Moon (on the 17th) will be even closer, making it the closest Supermoon of 2024! This means it could appear up to 30% brighter and 15% bigger than a Micro Moon (a full Moon at its farthest from Earth). You won’t want to miss it!
On top of that, we’ve got two meteor showers peaking in October. The Draconids on the 8th and the Orionids on the 21st. You won’t need any special equipment for these—just find a dark spot, get comfy, lay down if possible, and watch the show! Don’t forget to make a wish for every shooting star!
There’s also a comet making its way across the sky this month—C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). It’s predicted to shine with a magnitude of -4, which means it could become the brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon! Mark your calendars for the 12th or 13th of October and look towards the western horizon just after sunset. You might catch it with the naked eye, but if you’ve got binoculars, a telescope, or a camera with long exposure, you’re in for some unforgettable views.
Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are also putting on a show this month! Saturn will light up the sky just after sunset, with Jupiter joining a few hours later, and Mars making its appearance after midnight. What an amazing month for stargazing!
Image Credit: Stellarium/Kerem Cubuk
And hey, if you’re into stargazing, join us at the planetarium on the 4th of October or 1st of November for a fun night under the stars, space chat, and the chance to ask our experts all your burning questions!