Your guide to Ireland's skies

We have finally made it to the busiest and most exciting month in Blackrock Castle Observatory’s calendar, because this month we celebrate Space Week. Space Week runs in parallel with World Space Week, which takes place from the 4th to the 10th of October each year. During this time, we ask the people of Ireland to focus on ‘Our Planet, Our Space, Our Time’. Events will take place all across the country, in schools, clubs, and communities, focusing on the wonders of the universe around us. We want to promote space science, technology, and exploration and inspire the next generations of space enthusiasts. A great way to celebrate Space Week from your home is to do some stargazing and there are some very cool things to see this month. Let’s discuss our October night sky and highlight some of our exciting upcoming events for Space Week. 

With our days growing shorter and the nights longer, October brings some wonderful opportunities to view the night sky from Ireland. With meteor showers, planets, and exciting space missions in the works, this month is a treat for any stargazers or space enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned observer or just looking up for the first time, here’s what to keep an eye on in October 2024. 

The Draconid Meteor Shower (October 8th) 

While most meteor showers are best seen after midnight, the Draconids put on their show just after nightfall. Named after the constellation Draco, the point from which the meteor shower appears to emanate from, this shower is active from October 6th to 10th, with the peak expected on the 8th. We see this shower earlier than most because Draco will be highest in the sky just after sunset.  

Although the Draconids don’t always produce large numbers of meteors—typically only a few per hour—they are known for the occasional outburst of spectacular activity. We should have ideal conditions for viewing this year, with the Moon setting at 9pm, our sky will be dark all night long. For the best chances of spotting some of these meteors, go to a dark spot, away from city lights and look toward the northern sky. You will need to give your eyes time to adjust to the dark, about 20 minutes, to catch these meteors streaking from Draco the Dragon. 

The Orionid Meteor Shower (October 21st– 22nd) 

Later in the month, the Orionid meteor shower takes the stage. Originating from the debris left by Halley’s Comet, the Orionids are active from October 2nd through November 7th, peaking on the night of October 20th-21st. With an average of about 20 meteors per hour at its peak, this shower provides a beautiful show of fast, bright meteors. 

The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises late in the evening in the east. The Orionids are known for their speed and sometimes leave glowing trails in the sky. Unfortunately, we don’t have the best conditions for observing them this year, with the moon nearly full and high in the sky all night long during the shower’s peak.

Prominent Planets 

Another highlight of this month will be the planets. You’ll see Jupiter rising in the northeast just after 10pm at the beginning of the month and 7pm by the end of the month. It will climb high in the sky throughout the night. Jupiter is one of the brightest things you can find in the night sky, brighter than any star, so it should be easy to spot. Saturn will be visible as it gets dark every evening too, appearing in the south. Later to the party is Mars. At the beginning of October, we will see Mars rising in the northeast before midnight. By the end of the month, Mars will rise by 10pm. During October, the time will go back by one hour, so bear that in mind when trying to find the planets. Mars is even brighter than Jupiter because of how close it is to us, and it appears slightly red in the sky. If you have a telescope, why not try to get a glimpse of the planets in more detail. You may see some of Jupiter’s moons, or Saturn’s rings.  

Exciting Space Missions 

October is also a big month for space exploration. NASA’s long-awaited Europa Clipper mission is scheduled to launch October 10th, with the goal of studying Jupiter’s icy moon Europa in unprecedented detail. Europa is believed to harbor a subsurface ocean beneath its frozen crust, making it one of the most promising locations in the search for extraterrestrial life. The Europa Clipper will perform multiple flybys, collecting data on the moon’s ice shell, subsurface ocean, and potential habitability. While it will take several years to reach its destination, this launch is a monumental step in our understanding of one of the most intriguing moons in the solar system.  

The European Space Agency’s Hera mission is also set to be launched this month. Hera is designed to study the aftermath of NASA’s DART mission, which tested asteroid deflection by crashing a spacecraft into the moonlet Dimorphos in the Didymos asteroid system. Hera will closely examine the impact site, measure Dimorphos’ mass and internal structure, and gather detailed data on the binary asteroid system. Hera aims to provide crucial insights into asteroid deflection strategies and enhancing planetary defense efforts for future asteroid threats to Earth. 

Nova Explosion 

A highly anticipated event in the astronomical community that might occur this month is the nova explosion in the star system T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), or the “Blaze Star”. This is a recurrent nova located in the constellation Corona Borealis (or the Northern Crown) in the North. Historically, T CrB has erupted roughly every 80 years, with the last one being in 1946. Some experts believe the star system is on the verge of another eruption in 2024, and the latest predictions say it could happen this month. 

T CrB is comprised of two stars, a cool red giant and a hot white dwarf. The nova explosion occurs when the white dwarf takes material from its companion. This causes a buildup of pressure and heat and eventually triggers a thermonuclear explosion. T CrB is not visible to the unaided eye, but when the nova occurs it could become as bright as the North Star. Keep an eye on the news for when this happens because you should be able to spot this ‘new star’ for a few days afterwards.  

For Space Week this year, we are holding a competition on Instagram to get you ready to spot this once in a lifetime event. We want you to take an image of the constellation before the explosion occurs to be in with a chance of winning some very cool prizes from the Observatory.  

Space Week 

In 2023 Ireland ranked second per capita for hosting Space Week events globally and this year we are still aiming high. Events will be taking place across the country and there is still time to register more on the Space Week website. Registration is free and will help promote your event. Our ongoing success with Space Week shows it really is a great time to get involved and learn a little about the universe we live in. There’s plenty of ways to take part, such as attending an event, entering an astrophotography competition or watching some Space Week TV. This year Space Week is going on the road and NASA Astronaut Steve Swanson will join the team from MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory as they explore the wonders of the cosmos and the Emerald Isle, travelling to locations in Cork, Galway, Offaly, and Dublin. You can follow along with the Space Week Road Trip at the BCO Youtube Channel. Space Week is brought to you by MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory with the support of Science Foundation Ireland and ESERO Ireland. 

Blog post written by Jane Dooley