October’s night sky is full of cosmic tricks and treats

October’s skies are packed with celestial surprises, from Jupiter disappearing behind the Moon to two meteor showers lighting up the darkness. NASA highlights four must-see events, including shooting stars from Halley’s Comet and a glowing Hunter’s Moon just before Halloween. October’s night sky is full of cosmic tricks and treats.

As autumn days grow shorter and darkness arrives earlier, the night sky offers more opportunities to witness some remarkable astronomical sights. NASA has highlighted four events worth watching this month, ranging from Jupiter briefly vanishing behind the Moon to shooting stars created by debris from Halley’s Comet. With crisp autumn evenings and a little luck, skywatchers can enjoy several of these displays without any special equipment.

Jupiter Disappears Behind the Moon on October 6 Before sunrise on Tuesday, October 6, skywatchers in parts of North America had an opportunity to witness an unusual celestial disappearing act. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, slipped behind the Moon’s slender crescent and remained hidden for about an hour before coming back into view. Astronomers call this phenomenon a lunar occultation.