Watch All Planets Do a Celestial Dance This October

By Ana Verayo, | October 03, 2016

The Orionid meteor shower will peak on October 21 and 22.

The Orionid meteor shower will peak on October 21 and 22.

This October, more celestial events can be expected with more visible planets in both morning and night skies.

During the early weeks of October, Venus will grace the southwestern hemisphere right after twilight. Venus will continue to shine so bright that it will appear like a steady ray of laser beam. Astronomers say that Venus will exude a -3.9 magnitude brightness on Monday, October 3. Accompanying this planetary diamond is the waxing crescent from last Friday's Black Moon that will rise around 8 p.m. EST.

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Apart from Venus, the gas giant Saturn can also be spotted after dusk in the southwestern skies at zero magnitude, which means that Saturn will not be bright enough like Venus. Can't locate Saturn? The Jovian planet is visible just above the reddish star of Antares. However, Saturn will set before 10 p.m. EST and after 8 p.m. EST towards the last weeks of the month.


Later in October, Venus will migrate as it can be spotted moving steadily to cosmic neighbors Saturn and Antares which will cuddle nicely beside Saturn come Halloween.

Mars, on the other hand, will also possess a zero magnitude brightness similar to Saturn, which will be visible in the southern skies in the evening within the constellation Sagittarius, setting at 11 p.m. EST.

Tiny Mercury will also make its presence known in the eastern horizon in the middle of the month, as Jupiter will also emerge just before the first rays of light. Just before dawn, Jupiter will be located in the eastern skies with a -1.7 magnitude brightness and Mercury with seen at a -1.1 magnitude brightness. On October 28, the crescent waning moon will be seen creeping under Jupiter before the sun rises.

Let's not forget the moon, as it becomes full on October 16 around 12:32 a.m. EST. For those who are on the lookout for shooting stars, the Orionid meteor shower will peak during October 21 to 22 right after midnight. However, visibility problems will occur as it clashes with the last quarter moon.

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