Saturn, meteor showers, Hunter’s Moon to grace Kuwait’s skies in October
. . . can be seen with the naked eye, particularly from locations away from Kuwait’s bright city lights
Kuwait’s night skies are set for a busy October, with the Al-Ujairi Scientific Center forecasting around 10 notable astronomical events ranging from a close encounter between the Moon and Mars to Saturn at opposition, meteor showers, a full “Hunter’s Moon” and the Moon’s passage near the Pleiades star cluster.
The month opens with Saturn taking center stage on October 4, when the planet reaches opposition with the Sun. Saturn will be on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun, making it particularly well placed for observation. From Kuwait City, the planet will be visible from sunset through to sunrise.
The Moon and Mars will then share the early morning sky on October 5. The Moon will pass just 1 degree and 8 arcminutes north of Mars, creating a striking apparent close approach that can be observed together from Kuwait City before sunrise. The Draconid meteor shower will reach its peak on October 8 and 9. The shower appears after sunset, and this year’s timing near the new Moon means relatively dark skies, offering skywatchers better conditions for spotting meteors as they streak across the night sky.
On October 10, the Moon will reach its new phase as it aligns with the Sun. The center said the crescent Moon marking the beginning of Jumada al-Ula is expected to be born at 6:50 a.m. Mercury will get its turn on October 12, reaching its greatest eastern elongation. The position gives observers a better opportunity to find the elusive planet in the evening sky, where it will appear farther from the Sun’s glare.
The Orionid meteor shower, referred to in the source as the “Cursed” meteor shower, will peak on October 21 and 22. It is described as the second most prominent meteor shower visible in October, with activity continuing until around November 7. Another planetary pairing arrives on October 24, when the Moon will pass 6 degrees and 47 arcminutes north of Saturn. The 14-day-old Moon and Saturn will be visible together in the evening sky from Kuwait City.
Then comes one of October’s brightest nights. The full Moon will occur on October 26 in the constellation of Al-Butain. Known traditionally as the “Hunter’s Moon,” the October full Moon was associated by some Native American communities with the hunting season, when its brightness helped illuminate the night.
The month’s celestial calendar closes with the Moon approaching the Pleiades star cluster on October 28. The meeting can be seen with the naked eye, particularly from locations away from Kuwait’s bright city lights. The Al-Ujairi Scientific Center encouraged astronomy enthusiasts to make the most of the month’s events by choosing observation spots away from light pollution, where darker skies can reveal far more of what is happening above Kuwait.
