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Archive for October 21, 2024

Ephemeris: 10/21/2024 – Comets and meteors

October 21, 2024 Comments off

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Monday, October 21st. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 40 minutes, setting at 6:47, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:08. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 9:35 this evening.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS it’s now far enough away from the sun so it stays up most of the evening, setting at 10:44 PM. It will be seen in the west southwestern sky for the most part. And now that it is dimming, it is probably best seen with binoculars. Last night was the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. The shower had to compete with a bright Moon. Meteor showers are caused by comets shedding their material as they pass close to the Sun, as the gases sublimate liberating dust and rocks. Dust and gases are blown back into the tails of a comet. The bits of rock end up in much the same orbit as the comet. If the comet’s orbit crosses the Earth’s orbit We have a meteor shower. The Orionids are caused by debris from Halley’s comet.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Halley's Comet Orbit and meteor showers
Halley’s Comet’s orbit with the orbits of the inner planets showing the points at which the debris from the comet intersect with the Earth’s orbit causing meteor showers. Diagram credit JPL Small-Body Database Browser with annotations.
Categories: Comet, Ephemeris Program, Meteor Shower Tags: , ,