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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between October 1 and October 31, 2023. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.
Mercury rises at 5:41 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:48 a.m., PDT, one hour seven minutes later, on the 1st. The planet is only 5.7 arcseconds wide, and so a magnification of 200x is needed to see its disk. Within a week, Mercury will be close to the sun and unobservable for the rest of October. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.
Venus rises in the east-northeast at 3:22 a.m., PDT, on the 1st, three hours 26 minutes before the sun rises. The planet is 36-percent illuminated and 32 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Venus rises in the east at 3:32 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 7:12 a.m., PDT, three hours and 40 minutes later. Venus is 54-percent illuminated and 22 arcseconds wide. Venus remains in the morning sky until February.
Mars moves from Virgo the Maiden into Libra the Scales on the 23rd. On the 1st, the sun sets at 6:38 p.m., PDT, and Mars sets in the west at 7:17 p.m., PDT, 39 minutes later. Mars is only 3.6 arcseconds wide and so is too small to be seen in most telescopes. On the 31st, the sun sets at 6:01 p.m., PDT, and Mars sets at 6:16 p.m., PDT, 15 minutes later, and is unobservable. In a few months Mars will appear in the morning sky. The disk of Mars will remain small until a few months before January, 2025, the time of the planet’s next opposition.
Jupiter is in Aries the Ram. On the 1st, Jupiter rises due east at 8:16 p.m., PDT, and is 48 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Jupiter rises at 6:08 p.m., PDT, and the planet is 49 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons may be seen moving back and forth, roughly in a line centered on Jupiter.
Saturn is in Aquarius the Water Bearer. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east-southeast at 5:00 p.m., PDT, and is 19 arcseconds wide. On the 31st, Saturn rises at 2:59 p.m., PDT. A magnification of 50x is needed to see the rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan.
Uranus is in Aries the Ram. On the 1st, Uranus rises in the east-northeast at 8:38 p.m., PDT, and at 6:37 p.m., PDT, on the 31st. On the 15th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3h 19m 35s and declination +18° 0ʹ 47ʺ. A magnification of 200x is needed to see its 3.8-arcsecond-wide disk.
Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1st, the planet rises in the east at 6:03 p.m., PDT. On the 31st, Neptune rises at 4:04 p.m., PDT. On the 15th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23h 44m 51s and declination -2° 55ʹ 16ʺ. A magnification of 200x is needed to see its 2.4-arcsecond-wide disk.
Last quarter occurs on the 6th, new moon on the 14th, first quarter on the 21st, and full moon on the 28th.
SPECIAL EVENTS
An annular solar eclipse will occur over southern Oregon, northeastern Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and western Texas on Saturday, October 14. The annular phase will last over five minutes at the greatest eclipse point, located in Central America. The eclipse is partial as viewed from Los Angeles, with approximately 70-percent of the sun’s disk covered by the moon. The moon makes contact with the disk of the sun at 8:08 a.m., PDT. Mid eclipse happens at 9:24 a.m., PDT. The moon leaves the sun’s disk at 10:50 a.m., PDT. NEVER look at the sun without proper solar filters at any time. Griffith Observatory eclipse glasses and Solaramas for viewing the sun are on sale at Griffith Observatory’s Stellar Emporium and Bookstore. Griffith Observatory will open early and host a viewing session as well as a web broadcast. Please see the Observatory’s website for more details.
The Orionid meteor shower is active from September 26th to November 22nd. The Orionids are a medium strength shower that produces 10 to 20 shower members at maximum. The radiant is in the constellation of Orion the Hunter. The parent object is the famous comet 1P/Halley. The peak is on the night of October 20 to 21. The moon will set that night at 10:43 p.m., PDT.
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