Eyes on the Sky Update
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8
Monday, Oct. 2 – Waning gibbous moon rises over the east-northeastern horizon about 8:20 p.m., approximately 85% of the moon facing the earth is illuminated. The moon will be east of Jupiter and adjacent to the Pleiades star cluster.
Tuesday, Oct. 3 – Venus blazes in the eastern predawn sky while the moon is above Jupiter in the west. Also, Mercury is very low above the eastern horizon. Look before 6:30 a.m. for these sky objects.
Wednesday, Oct. 4 – Around 8 p.m., Saturn is above the southeastern horizon while Jupiter is just rising over the east-northeastern horizon.
Thursday, Oct. 5 – Venus is closing in on the star Regulus, the brightest star of Leo. Watch over the next few days as the approach takes place and the (apparent angular) distance between the two decreases. The pair is above the eastern horizon after 3:30 a.m. and visible until about a half hour before sunrise.
Friday, Oct. 6 – Last quarter moon occurs at 9:48 a.m. against the stars of Gemini. The moon will be in the western sky at that time.
Saturday, Oct. 7 – One week until a Partial Eclipse of the Sun. At maximum, about 20% of the sun will be covered (solar obscuration). The partial solar eclipse starts at 12:10 p.m., reaches maximum at 1:20 p.m. and ends at 2:31 p.m. You will need safe solar eclipse glasses to view the sun for the duration of this celestial event.
Sunday, Oct, 8 – Venus appears at its closest to Regulus. Look to the eastern sky between 4 and 6:30 a.m.
Editor’s Note: Richard Monda, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics Department, publishes updates to his HVCC Eyes on the Sky video series each week in the Campus Chronicle.