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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between October 1 and October 31, 2024. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury is close to the sun until the 20^th, when it appears in the evening sky. The sun sets at 6:12 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets in the west at 6:46 p.m., PDT.  On the 31^st, the sun sets at 6:01 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets in the west-southwest at 6:50 p.m., PDT. Mercury is 87-percent illuminated and only 5.2 arcseconds wide, and so a magnification of 150x is needed to see its disk. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west-southwest at 8:02 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun sets at 6:36 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Venus sets in the southwest at 8:05 p.m., PDT. Venus is 81-percent illuminated and 13 arcseconds wide. A small telescope will show the disk with a magnification of 100x. On the 5^th, Venus is three degrees north of the Moon.  On the 25^th, Venus is three degrees north of the star Antares.

Mars rises in the east-northeast at 12:07 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 31^st, Mars rises at 11:09 p.m., PDT. The planet crosses from Gemini the Twins into Cancer the Crab on the 30^th.  Mars is 88-percent illuminated and 8.2 arcseconds wide and is too small to reveal details on its disk. Mars next reaches opposition and closest approach to earth on January 16, 2025.

Jupiter rises in the east-northeast in Taurus the Bull at 10:22 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 31^st, the planet rises at 8:21 p.m., PDT. Jupiter is 44 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn rises in the east in Aquarius the Water Bearer at 5:34 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 31^st, Saturn rises at 3:32 p.m., PDT. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus rises east-northeast in Taurus the Bull at 8:49 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 31^st, Uranus rises at 6:48 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 37^m 06^s and declination +19° 06ʹ 57ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.8-arcsecond disk.

Neptune rises in the east in Pisces the Fishes at 6:07 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 31^st, Neptune rises at 4:07 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23^h 54^m 19^s and declination -2° 03ʹ 38ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.4-arcsecond disk.

New moon is on the 2^nd, first quarter on the 10^th, full moon on the 17^th, and last quarter on the 24^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is visible in the evening sky after the 13^th. Although listed as visible to the unaided eye, binoculars will probably be needed to see it. On the 11^th, the comet is very low in the west and sets half an hour after the sun sets. On the 21^st, the comet sets in the west, three hours after the sun sets. On the 31^st the comet will set around 9:20 p.m., PDT, three hours and 20 minutes after the sun sets.

The comet’s coordinates on those dates are:

Date                Right Ascension      Declination

Oct 11             13^h 31^m 54^s                -02° 11ʹ 55ʺ

Oct 21             16^h 38^m 35^s                +02° 31ʹ 20ʺ

Oct 31             17^h 56^m 08^s                +03° 41ʹ 02ʺ

 The Orionid meteor shower is active from September 26^th to November 22^nd. 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 peak is on the night of October 20 to the 21^st. The waning gibbous moon will be 83-percent illuminated and will interfere with observations.

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