October 3, 2005
October 05 Astronomy Note
Interesting items this month:
-Mars in retrograde (Started 1 Oct, near the Pleides. Will continue for about two months, then revert to prograde motion.) Mars is also at its closest to Earth this month, getting as close as 43 million miles on 29 October, and at its
largest appearance for the next 13 years, although about 20% less than in 2003, which was the closest approach in 59,000 years. It will be much higher in the sky than 2003, so viewing may be even better, or clearer.
-Jewish new year (5766 A.M. started at sunset, 3 Oct).
-Ramadan(started at sunset on 3 Oct).
-Meteors: Draconids (near Polaris, the North Star) peak around 8 Oct. Since their parent comet, Giocobini-Zinner, returns this year, the possibility of a a sudden, super-intense burst exists.
-Full moon, or "Hunter's Moon", will be 17 Oct. (Also a partial lunar eclipse, at about :30 am).
-switch from Daylight Savings Time( will happen 30 Oct).
-Meteors: Orionids (radiating from the "club" of Orion) will peak 21 Oct. Associated with comet 1P/Halley, they may be obscured some by moonlight.