Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report for October 17th to the 23rd.
The full moon for the month of October was in the morning hours of Monday the 17th. Being the full moon after the Harvest Moon, this one is known as the Hunter’s Moon. It is also sometimes known as the Blood Moon.
If you looked at the moon on Monday morning and noticed that it looked unusually dark on the left-most limb, it was because you were seeing the edge of the Earth’s shadow falling on the moon. The eclipse was only visible for a short time before moonset for us, but the west coast and Pacific viewers were able to see it in its entirety.
The moon will be above a bright-orange Mars on Tuesday the 18th, and below and to the left of Mars on Wednesday the 19th. Also look for the Pleiades star cluster above the moon on the 19th. Mars is now rising at about 8 p.m. this week.
Venus is still visible in the southwest after sunset until about 9 p.m. Saturn is rising around 1:30 a.m. The famous winter constellation of Orion the Hunter is above the eastern horizon by 11:30 p.m. this week.
Wednesday night viewing on the Robert Lee Moore Hall will be delayed at least one more week due to continuing construction. Please call this recording for updated information each week.
The Painter Hall telescope is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe.
All events are free and open to all ages and no reservations are required. Note that star party times and availability change throughout the year. Please call this recording before planning a visit to the telescopes. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 232-4265 for weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 60 minutes before viewing start time only on nights when star parties are cancelled.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report.
