By Robin Bradshaw, Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill. The Tribune Content Agency
Heads up, sky watchers: There's no shortage of celestial events this week, with an 80,000-year-orbit comet, the biggest supermoon of the year, and the Orionids meteor showers. Oh my!
The comet, known as Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, likely traveled from the outer reaches of our solar system and made its closest pass by the sun in late September, according to NASA. The comet came the closest to Earth on Oct. 12. While that date has passed, it will be at its brightest and likely most visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere this week and next, PBS reported. However, binoculars are recommended.
The best viewing times are about an hour after sunset.
In addition, this week, the biggest supermoon of 2024 will reach peak illumination at 6:26 p.m. CST on Thursday, Oct. 17, according to the 2024 lunar calendar.
As the largest full moon of the year, the moon will appear larger and more orange in the sky as it rises over the horizon around sunset, marking the swing of the fall season, the Old Farmer's Almanac reported. Supermoons are slightly closer to Earth than average full moons due to the moon's orbit, making them appear larger and brighter from Earth's perspective.
If that wasn't enough, the Orionids meteor showers are also active and will be visible after midnight through the early morning hours.
Ideally, under a dark sky with no moon, the Orionids showers can perform with about 10 to 20 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. However, this week, the sky will host the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year, so there will be interference with seeing the showers late this week, with a silver lining.
The meteor showers are expected to peak on October 20-21, 2024, when the full moon will ease some to 83%, offering better options for sky gazing, the report said. The Orionids are noted as being fast-moving meteors that occasionally leave persistent trains and sometimes produce bright fireballs.
Biggest and brightest 'supermoon' of 2024 is set to reach peak illumination this month
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