Space2 min(s) read
Published 12:32 28 Sep 2020 GMT
The spookiest month of the year is almost upon us, and this October will be a particularly spectacular month for ghouls and witches with a penchant for looking up at the night sky.
A stunning harvest full moon and Mars will be visible in the night sky this week, with the former appearing on Thursday night, nine days after the autumn equinox.
There are two full moons each month, and the second, a hunter's moon, will be appearing on Halloween itself, October 31.
Earth Sky advises that the best time for UK stargazers to witness the harvest moon is at 10:05 pm; meanwhile, Forbes reports that the best time for American stargazers to catch a glimpse of it is at 5:05 p.m EDT.
Forbes has promised that this will be an "incredible sight" for Americans with the bonus of clear skies too.
While this isn't the only full moon in 2020, it is unlike another this year.
The Old Farmer's Almanac wrote: "There are just little over 12 complete Moon cycles every year, on average - there being about 29.53 days in a synodic month. The Harvest Moon isn't like the other Moons.
"Usually, throughout the year, the Moon rises an average of about 50 minutes later each day. But near the autumnal equinox, the difference is only 30 minutes.
"Additionally, the Full Harvest Moon rises at sunset and then will rise very near sunset for several nights in a row because the difference is at a yearly minimum. It may almost seem as if there are full Moons multiple nights in a row."
Mars will be visible in the night sky on October 2, and stargazers will be able to see the red planet near the almost-full moon during the last few hours of the sunset, with Forbes reporting that the two will be "exceptionally close" to each other.
However, if you're looking to enjoy the night sky even more in October, you can also catch a glimpse of the Draconid meteor shower, which is set to peak next week.
Timeanddate.com reports that the best days to view the meteor shower are October 8 and 9, and what makes this shower even better is that it will be viewable at a reasonable time rather than particularly late at night.
EarthSky revealed what this shower is: "This annual meteor shower happens when Earth in its orbit crosses the orbital path of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Debris left behind by this comet collides with the Earth's upper atmosphere, to burn up as Draconid meteors. This comet has an orbital period of about 6.6 years.
"It’s about six times more distant at its farthest point from the sun than at its nearest point. At aphelion - its most distant point - it's farther out than the planet Jupiter. At perihelion - its closest point to the sun - it's about the Earth's distance from the sun."
So, if you're a fan of looking up at the night sky in wonder, October really is the best month this year to do it.
