Tonight offers a rare opportunity to see two of the brightest objects in our sky in very close proximity. Jupiter will appear to be about one finger-width away from the waxing gibbous moon. Also, the bright star Aldebaran, which makes up part of the horns of the constellation Taurus, will be adjacent to them. This will be the closest the moon and Jupiter appear together in the sky until 2026.
Despite the chilly weather, it’ll be a great time to enjoy some stargazing due to the abundance of bright objects on the winter sky.
Learn more:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Jupiter-Dances-with-the-Moon-187160571.html
http://www.space.com/19346-see-jupiter-moon-together-monday.html
The Orionid meteor shower peaks this weekend and promises a good show. The peak will occur in the pre-dawn sky of Sunday morning (Oct. 21). Look to the south where the constellation Orion will be on prominent display. The meteors will appear to enter our atmosphere with Orion located close to the heart of the display. The source of the Orionid shower is the famed Halley’s Comet. Dust particles from the comet are left behind during Halley’s orbit around the sun, and every year at this time the earth passes through the debris trail.