There is no shortage of celestial events to see in the North Texas night sky throughout the month of October.
Here is a list of things to watch out for, weather permitting.
Look at the International Space Station
The International Space Station will fly into the skies of northern Texas this month. It will appear as a fast moving star across the sky.
The International Space Station travels at 17,150 miles per hour with an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees relative to the Earth’s equator. The station orbits the globe every 90 minutes. It orbits approximately 250 miles above the Earth.
Meteor shower dredged
The draconid meteor shower peaks on the evening of 8 October.
This rain is caused by the passage of the Earth through the debris poured out by a 1.2 mile wide periodic comet called 21P / Giacobini-Zinner. He last survived another trip around the sun in 2018 and is expected to make a return trip in 2024.
Full moon of the hunter
October has a hunter’s moon. It got its name from the Native Americans for this time of year when people were looking to build shops for the winter. With the onset of the frost season, it is also called the frozen moon and ice moon.
This month’s full moon will be at its maximum on October 9th at 3:54 pm. You can meet him for a few days before and after.
Meteor shower from the Orionids
It will peak on the evenings of October 20th and 21st when, under ideal conditions, up to 25 meteors can be seen every hour, with the best views in the hours before dawn on the 21st.
Most meteors can be seen from anywhere in the evening sky.
new moon
At the end of the month, the new moon will reach its climax on October 25 at 5:48 am. This event allows many stars to shine without interruption in the moonlight. If you have a telescope, this is also a great opportunity to see some of the faintest galaxies and other celestial bodies in the night sky.
For optimal viewing, stay away from urban lights.
