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Celestial
Events Calendar
Friday, October 1, 2004:
4 AM CDT Mars is at heliocentric conjunction with Jupiter,
that is, Mars is between the Sun and Jupiter.
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Saturday, October 2, 2004:
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Sunday, October 3, 2004:
11 AM CDT Venus is 0.16o south of Regulus in
Leo the Lion.
Tuesday, October 5, 2004:
1 PM CDT The planet Mercury is at superior conjunction
with the Sun, that is, the Sun is between Mercury and the Earth. As Mercury
passes behind the Sun it moves from the morning sky into the evening sky.
5 PM CDT The Moon is at apogee, the point in its orbit
where it is the furthest from the Sun ~ 254,000 miles.
Wednesday, October 6, 2004:
5:12 AM CDT Last Quarter Moon
Friday, October 8, 2004:
Draconid or Giacobinid
meteor shower active October 6 10, the number of meteors/hour (ZHR) can
vary from none to a meteor storm, the Moon phase favors viewing.
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Saturday, October 7, 2004:
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004:
9:47 PM CDT New Moon, the beginning of
lunation cycle #1012.
9:59 PM CDT Partial eclipse of the Sun, visible in
Siberia, Japan and Alaska.
Thursday, October 14, 2004:
5 PM CDT The Moon is at its descending node, Its orbit is
taking it south of the plane of the orbit of the Earth.
Friday, October 15, 2004:
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Saturday, October 16, 2004:
2 PM CDT Mercury is at its descending node, it is passing
south of the plane of the Earths orbit.
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Sunday, October 17, 2004:
7 PM CDT The Moon is at perigee, the point in its orbit
where it is closest to the Earth ~ 231,000 miles.
Monday, October 18, 2004:
Epsilon Geminid meteor shower Active October 14
27, ZHR ~ 2 meteors/hour, the Moon phase favors viewing this minor shower.
7 PM CDT NHAC Observation committee meeting, Kingwood
College
Wednesday, October 20, 2004:
8 PM CDT Saturn is at west quadrature. The Sun, Earth,
Saturn line makes a 90o angle and is visible in the morning sky.
4:59 PM CDT First Quarter Moon
Thursday, October 21, 2004:
Orionid meteor shower Active October 2
to November 7, ZHR is 15 to 30. the Moon phase favors visibility of this major
shower.
Friday, October 22, 2004:
8 PM CDT 4th Annual Houston/Beaumont
Regional Astronomy Meeting, St. Thomas University, Speaker Jay
McNeil, NHACs first observation committee chair, Presentation McNeils
Nebula: Backyard Science and Serendipity. Because of the regional
meeting there will be NO NHAC meeting at Kingwood College in
October.
Saturday, October 23, 2004:
10 PM CDT The Sun leaves the astrological sign of Libra
and enters the astrological sign of Scorpio.
3 11 PM CDT Astronomy Day 2004, at the
George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park a family event, see www.astronomyday.org
Sunday, October 24, 2004:
12 AM CDT Neptune is stationary in right ascension.
Neptune ceases its westward retrograde motion and resumes its normal prograde
eastward motion.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004:
8 PM CDT The planet Mercury is at aphelion, the point in
its orbit where it is furthest from the Sun ~ 43 million miles
Wednesday, October 27, 2004:
5 PM CDT The Moon is at its ascending node, it is passing
north of the plane of the Earths orbit, the ecliptic.
10:06 PM CDT Full Moon, harvest or hunters
moon
Total Eclipse of the Moon: begins
9:23 PM, ends 10:45 PM visible from North America.
Friday, October 29, 2004:
The Neal Site is scheduled tonight.
Saturday, October 30, 2004:
11 AM CDT The Sun leaves the astronomical constellation of
Virgo and enters the astronomical constellation of Libra.
Sunday, October 31, 2004:
Halloween!
2 AM CDT All clocks change from 2 AM CDT to 1 AM CST.