After the wonderfully rich views of the southern winter, October night skies look rather empty, with exception to the bright planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. However, this does not mean there is nothing else to see. There are several objects that make good targets for even modest amateur equipment.

Look south to find the constellation Tucana, the Toucan. Within the boundaries of this constellation you can see 47 Tucanae, or NGC 104, one of the best globular clusters in the night sky. With the naked eye it appears as a slightly fuzzy star. Near 47 Tucanae lies the galaxy known as the Small Magellanic Cloud, or SMC, which is a great target for a small telescope or a pair of binoculars, and can also be seen with the naked eye.

Also occurring is the annual Orionid meteor shower. Orionids are active every year in October, this year peaking on the night of October 21-22. At its peak there are potentially up to 20 meteors visible every hour. Orionids are named after Orion, because the meteors seem to emerge or radiate from the same area in the sky as the constellation. No special equipment or a lot of skill is required to view a meteor shower. All you really need is a clear sky and lots of patience. For optimum viewing, find a secluded spot away from the city lights. Once you have found your spot, make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long – meteor watching can be a waiting game.

This month’s conjunctions, which is when two astronomical objects appear close to each other in the sky, include the moon and Venus on October 6, the moon and Saturn on October 15, the moon and Jupiter on October 21, and the moon and Mars on October 24. Also on October 15, the moon will pass in front of Saturn, creating a lunar occultation.

By Nerida Langcake
This article appeared in the October 2024 issue of the Mornington Peninsula Magazine.