At the risk of making every fall evening cloudy (Mother Nature reads this column too), here are a few very special things to watch for in this autumn’s night sky. In addition to the usual parade of constellations. planets, meteor showers, a lunar eclipse, and the northern lights may all be seen from a dark sky location.
The moon guides us to three of the planets. Venus sits low in the western evening sky, next to the waxing moon on October 9, November 8, and December 7. Jupiter and Saturn are higher in the evening sky and will meet the moon on October 14-15, November 10-11, and December 8-9.
Meteor showers happen when the Earth passes through debris left by comets and asteroids. When these dust and ice particles enter the atmosphere, they burn up, creating streaks of light. Named after the constellation from which they seem to originate, the chart shows when and where to look, how many may fall per hour, whether the nearby moon will wash out the fainter streaks, and when the shower peaks.
| Date | Constellation | Number/hour | Moon Effect? | Peak Night |
| Oct. 6-10 |
Draco |
10 |
No |
Oct. 8 |
| Oct. 2-Nov. 7 |
Orion |
20 |
Yes |
Oct. 20 |
| Nov. 1-30 |
Leo |
10 |
Yes |
Nov. 17 |
| Dec. 4-20 |
Gemini |
100+ |
Yes |
Dec. 14 |
Dark backyards, sheltered from streetlights, make good observing spots. Parking lots allow clearer views with few trees. Deserted country roads are great too. Allow your eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust to the darkness outside before trying to see meteors. This means putting away your phone or tablet! Avoid looking at streetlights, dashboard displays, headlights and the moon.
The eclipse of the moon happens in the middle of the night November 18-19. It starts at 1:02 a.m., and peaks at 4:02 a.m. It’s a rare near-total eclipse, with almost all the moon’s surface falling into Earth’s shadow. Most of the moon will look red, but there’ll still be a silvery sliver at its southern edge! Check the overnight forecast, and if it’s clear then set your alarm!
Northern lights are easier to see but are highly unpredictable. They occur when the sun shoots out particles that slam into gas molecules high in our atmosphere near the poles. This can happen any time, so check this website for a 3-day prediction – it’s best to look on the nights in red (https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/planetary-k-index). Also be sure to look when there’s little or no moon. This happens during the last week of one month into the first week of the next this fall. Be sure to allow time to adjust to the darkness.
Good luck! Stay safe!