Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Oct. 7 6:44 6:13

Sat., Oct. 8 6:45 6:12

Sun., Oct. 9 6:46 6:10

Mon., Oct. 10 6:47 6:09

Tues., Oct. 11 6:48 6:07

Wed., Oct. 12 6:49 6:05

Thurs., Oct. 13 6:51 6:04

Fri., Oct. 14 6:52 6:02

Last month was the harvest moon, and now another full moon comes on Tuesday. If the weather cooperates, the moon will rise in the east at sunset looking like this season’s favorite jack-o’-lantern. The moon appears in the zodiacal constellation Pisces, not far from the brilliant planet Jupiter, also rising in the east.

On the following night, the moon and Jupiter appear even closer together. The moon is about 230,000 miles from earth, while the planet is 1,000 times farther (378 million miles) away.

On Thursday night the moon appears near the Pleiades, a star cluster in the zodiacal constellation Taurus. The Pleiades are also called Seven Sisters. Some think the constellation looks like a small dipper; closer inspection reveals it does look like a small cup with a handle. On a moonless night there are many more stars to see in the cluster. With a pair of binoculars you can see more than a dozen stars. With a telescope, the number jumps higher.

There are two meteor showers this month. The Draconid meteor shower peaks tomorrow night, but a brilliant moon will act as a spoiler. The Orionid meteor shower takes place on the evening of Friday, Oct. 21. Without a brilliant moon, it will be this month’s better shower.

M.A.L.