October 2021 Moon Phases & Astronomy

October 2021 Moon Phases and Astronomy, Available only at WildHemlock.Com! Learn more about Meteor Showers, Moon Phases, and More at Wild Hemlock
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October 2021 Moon Phases and Astronomy, Available only at WildHemlock.Com! Learn more about Meteor Showers, Moon Phases, and More at Wild Hemlock

October 2021 is bustling with meteor showers! October marks the first full month of Autumn. With the Harvest Moon behind us, October names its moon the Hunter’s Moon.

There are six meteor showers this month! Spanning from the beginning to the end, the October night sky will be full of streaking shooting stars. The Orionid Meteor Shower, one of the most iconic meteor showers of the year, peaks this month. Although the peak is dangerously close to the Full Moon, there will be many more to see.

During this month, Mercury will pass “directly” between the Sun and the Earth during its Inferior Conjunction. Mercury and Venus, being inferior planets, show phases not unlike the moon. During the Inferior Conjunction, Mercury will have a “New” Phase. When the planets are at their Superior Conjunctions (on the other side of the Sun), they would have a “Full” Phase – if we could see it!

Table of Contents:

Moon Phases

Moon Facts

Meteor Showers

Planetary Alignments

Lunar Conjunctions

Moon Phase Calendar

Check out the Glossary of Astronomical Events if you need any explanations!


Moon Phases

New Moon

October 6th
First Quarter Moon

October 12th
Full Moon

October 20th
Third Quarter Moon

October 28th

All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST) or Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDT).

Moon Facts

Moon. Learn more about lunar phenomena and moon phases at WildHemlock.Com
Perigee:8th
Descending Node:9th
Ascending Node:23rd
Apogee:24th
Moon Name:Hunter’s Moon



Meteor Showers

Learn more about Meteor Showers at WildHemlock.Com
Draco Constellation thanks to Wikipedia. Learn More at WildHemlock.Com

Camelopardalids Meteor Shower

Radiant Point:Draco Constellation
Peak Date:October 5th
Best Time, EST:After 11:20 PM
Direction to Look:Zenith
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org
Image from IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine, via Wikipedia

Taurus Constellation thanks to Wikipedia. Learn More at WildHemlock.Com

South Taurids Meteor Shower

Radiant Point:Taurus Constellation
Peak Date:October 10th
Best Time, EST:After 12:30 AM
Direction to Look:West Northwest, low to the horizon
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org
Image from IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine, via Wikipedia

Auriga Constellation. Learn more about it at WildHemlock.Com!

δ-Aurigids Meteor Shower

Radiant Point:Auriga Constellation
Peak Date:October 11th
Best Time, EST:After 7:30 PM
Direction to Look:East
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org
Image from IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine, via Wikipedia

Gemini Constellation. Learn more at WildHemlock.Com


ε-Geminids Meteor Shower

Radiant Point:Gemini
Peak Date:October 18th
Best Time, EST:Hours Before Dawn
Direction to Look:West Northwest
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org
Image from IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine, via Wikipedia

Orion Constellation. Learn more at WildHemlock.Com!


Orionids Meteor Shower

Radiant Point:Orion
Peak Date:October 21st
Best Time, EST:5 AM, Visible after 10:30 PM
Direction to Look:West Northwest
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org
Image from IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine, via Wikipedia

Leo the Lion Constellation. Learn more at WIldHemlock.Com

Leonids Meteor Shower

Radiant Point:Leo Minor
Peak Date:October 24th
Best Time, EST:1 – 6 AM
Direction to Look:Zenith
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org
Image from IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine, via Wikipedia

Planetary Alignments

Mars Symbol by Wild Hemlock. Learn more about astronomy at WildHemlock.ComMars

Solar Conjunction

October 7th

Hidden by the Sun
Mercury Symbol by Wild Hemlock. Learn more about astronomy at WildHemlock.ComMercury

Inferior Conjunction

October 9th

Mercury’s Phase will be “New,”
Much Like the Moon
Saturn Symbol by Wild Hemlock. Learn more about astronomy at WildHemlock.ComSaturn

Exits Retrograde

October 11th

Associated with folklore
Mercury

Exits Retrograde

October 18th

Associated with folklore
Jupiter Symbol by Wild Hemlock. Learn more about astronomy at WildHemlock.ComJupiter

Exits Retrograde

October 18th

Associated with folklore
Mercury

Greatest Western Elongation

October 25th

Ideal time to view planet
Venus Symbol by Wild Hemlock. Learn more about astronomy at WildHemlock.ComVenus

Greatest Eastern Elongation

October 29th

Ideal time to view planet

Lunar Conjunctions

Moon. Learn more about lunar phenomena and moon phases at WildHemlock.Com
Venus

Lunar Conjunction

October 9th
Saturn

Lunar Conjunction

October 14th
Jupiter

Lunar Conjunction

October 15th

October 2021



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