October night skies bring supermoon, meteor showers, and planets to Summit County

Photo: Photo by Gabriel Tovar

PARK CITY, Utah — October will deliver some of the year’s brightest celestial events over Summit County, including a supermoon, two meteor showers, and easy views of Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

The Almanac reports that darker skies follow the autumnal equinox, making evenings around 8 p.m. ideal for viewing the Milky Way as it stretches from north to south across the heavens.

Planets and moons

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Venus will blaze low in the eastern sky around 6:15 a.m. each morning, appearing slightly dimmer each day, while Jupiter will rise higher as the month progresses. On Oct. 6, Saturn will be visible halfway up the southern sky by midnight, shining steadily among faint stars near the Pisces–Aquarius border. Through a telescope, viewers may also spot Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, the Almanac noted.

That same evening, the Almanac reports that the Harvest Moon will reach full phase at 11:47 p.m. and will be a supermoon this year, appearing larger and brighter than usual, rising at nearly the same time for several nights in a row.

Meteor showers

The Almanac states that the Draconid meteor shower will peak Oct. 8–9, averaging about six meteors per hour. While not a major display, it signals the beginning of meteor season. Because the Moon will be 90% full, moonlight will wash out much of the activity; therefore, the Almanac advises watching early in the evening on October 8, away from city lights.

Later in the month, the Orionid meteor shower will peak Oct. 20–21. The Old Farmer’s Almanac describes the Orionids as one of October’s best shows, with a shooting star every three to five minutes and speeds of 41 miles per second. The shower originates from Halley’s Comet, and this year it coincides with a new Moon, providing optimal viewing conditions.

End of the month

On Oct. 19, the Almanac notes, a crescent Moon will pair with Venus in the early morning sky. By Halloween night, a waxing gibbous Moon will be about 70% illuminated. The Almanac adds that the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the “seven sisters of Halloween,” will be on display alongside the holiday’s trick-or-treaters.

For Summit County residents hoping to catch these sights, the Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends stepping outside after dinner for evening planets and meteors, or before sunrise for Venus and Jupiter.