The month of October arrives bringing new astrological phenomena for observers of the night sky. Among the spectacles that will be visible in the Brazilian sky are: a partial solar eclipse the approximation of the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinschan-ATLAS) the Orionid meteor shower and the biggest Supermoon of the year, in addition to several celestial conjunctions .
At the beginning of the month, part of Brazil will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse which occurs when the Moon is positioned partially between the Sun and the Earth, preventing light from reaching some points on our planet.
THE comet C/2023 A3 nicknamed “comet of the century” should also reach its point of closest approach to Earth on the 12th, and should be able to be seen with the naked eye in dark skies and away from city lights.
Furthermore, the biggest supermoon of the year should appear shining in the night sky this month.
At the end of the month, the Orionid meteor shower can be observed during the early hours of the morning, in an easterly direction.
Furthermore, we will also have celestial conjunctions, which occur when two or more celestial bodies appear very close together in the sky — an optical illusion, as they are separated by thousands of kilometers in space.
Conjunctions are generally observable with the naked eye, and tend to produce beautiful astronomical photos.
See below the main astronomical phenomena of the month of September according to the guide to astronomical ephemerides at the Valongo Observatory, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) .
- 2/10: Annular solar eclipse, visible in southern South America (Chile and Argentina) and the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean. In Brazil, the eclipse will be seen as partial, fully covering the states of the Southern Region, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and partially the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Mato Grosso. In Rio de Janeiro, the Sun will be covered by 9.5%, with the eclipse beginning at 5:01 pm, peaking at 5:42 pm and ending with the Sun below the horizon;
- 5/10: Conjunction between the Moon and Venus in the early evening towards the west, in the constellation of Libra;
- 7/10: Conjunction of the Moon with the star Antares, westward, in the early evening. The stars will be 0.7° apart;
- 10/12: Closest approach of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinschan-ATLAS) to Earth (71 million kilometers). The comet can be best observed (with binoculars and possibly with the naked eye, in dark skies) in the second half of the month, at the beginning of the night, when it will transit through the constellations of Serpent and Ophiuchus;
- 10/14: Conjunction between the Moon and Saturn in the early evening, eastward, in the constellation Aquarius;
- 10/17: Full Moon in Supermoon event (Perigee Full Moon). The Moon can be seen throughout the night in the constellation Aries;
- 10/21: Maximum activity of the Orionid meteor shower, which can be observed during the morning in the east direction. There is also a conjunction between the Moon and Jupiter during
dawn, in the constellation of Taurus; - 10/23: Conjunction between the Moon and Mars during the dawn, in the constellation of Gemini;
- 10/25: Conjunction between Venus and the star Antares, in the early evening, westward, in the constellation Scorpio.
THE astronomical ephemeris guide has been produced since 2016 by Valongo Observatory from the UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and brings the main phenomena that can be seen in the night sky each year.
With the aim of reviving interest in celestial contemplation, the material lists month by month which celestial bodies will be visible and the best way to look for them. In addition to providing simple explanations about astronomy.
THE complete guide with sky maps, can be downloaded for free here .
Check it out here astronomy apps to help locate and track astronomical phenomena in the night sky.
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This content was originally published in Sky of October will have partial eclipse of the Sun and biggest Supermoon of the year on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
