There is no shortage of celestial events to see in the North Texas night sky throughout the month of October.
Here is a list of things to watch out for, weather permitting.
See the International Space Station
The International Space Station will take off in North Texas this month. It will appear as a fast moving star in the sky.
The International Space Station travels at 17,150 miles per hour with an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees relative to the Earth’s equator. The station orbits the globe every 90 minutes. It orbits approximately 250 miles above the Earth.
Dragon meteor shower
This Dragon meteor shower reaches its climax on the night of October 8th. Dragons are named after the northern constellation Draco the Dragon, from which they appear to radiate.
This rain is caused by the passage of the Earth through debris raised by a 1.2 mile wide periodic comet called 21P / Giacobini-Zinner. He last survived another trip around the sun in 2018 and is expected to make a return trip in 2024.
full moon of hunters
October has a hunter’s moon. It got its name from Native Americans for that time of year when people were looking to build tents for the winter. With the onset of the frost season, it is also called the icy moon and icy moon.
This month’s full moon will be at its maximum on October 9 at 3:54 pm. You can update it for a few days before and after.
Orionid meteor shower
It will peak on the nights of October 20 and 21 when, under ideal conditions, up to 25 meteors can be seen every hour, with the best views in the hours before the dawn of the 21.
Most meteors can be seen from anywhere in the night sky.
New moon
At the end of the month, the new moon will reach its climax on October 25 at 5:48 am. This event allows many stars to shine without interruption in the light of the moon. If you have a telescope, this is also a great opportunity to see some of the faintest galaxies and other celestial bodies in the night sky.
For optimal viewing, stay away from urban lights.
