Page 8 - VIPNET CURIOSITY_Oct_2021

Vipin Singh Rawat
Astronomical Events of
OCTOBER 2021
OCTOBER 7
DRACONIDS METEOR SHOWER
Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner. Best viewing will be in the early evening from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco but can appear anywhere in the sky.
OCTOBER 21, 22
ORIONIDS METEOR SHOWER
The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak.
It is produced by dust grains
left behind by comet Halley.
Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion but can appear anywhere in the sky.
OCTOBER 25
MERCURY AT GREATEST WESTERN ELONGATION Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation of 18.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
OCTOBER 29
VENUS AT GREATEST EASTERN ELONGATION Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation of 47 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above
the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
The author is Program Manager at Vijnana Bharati.
Sky Map
FOR OCTOMBE 2021
8
October 2021
The sky map is prepared as per the coordinates of Nagpur (21.09°N, 79.09°E). It includes constel- lations and the brighter stars. For viewers south of Nagpur, constellations of the southern sky will appear higher up in the sky, and those of the northern sky will appear nearer the northern horizon. Similarly, for viewers north of Nagpur, constellations of northern sky will appear higher up in the sky, and those of the southern sky will appear nearer the southern horizon.
THE MAP CAN BE USED AT 10 PM ON 1 OCTOBER, AT 9 PM ON 15 OCTOBER AND AT 8 PM ON 31 OCTOBER.