Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.

October 5:

The Moon in between Mars and the Beehive Cluster

Look for the waning crescent Harvest Moon in between Mars and the Beehive Cluster (M44), low in the eastern sky in the constellation Cancer around 2:15 AM until dawn.
October Camelopardalids Meteor Shower peaks: Look for about 5 meteors per hour from a radiant around Polaris after 5:00 AM

October 6:

Catch the waning crescent Harvest Moon occulting Jupiter. Look for the bright limb of the Moon to occult Jupiter around 2:23 AM with it reappearing from its dark limb around 3:11 AM

October 7:

Find the waning crescent Harvest Moon near Regulus, the bright alpha star of Leo meets up with a tiny sliver of moon low in the eastern sky around 4:30 AM.
DAS Astrophotography Special Interest Group (ASIG) – General & Beginner Meeting: Free, members’ only, virtual meeting via Zoom (details in Slack and membership email): 7:00 PM

October 8:

Standley Lake Stargazing: Weekly Livestream: Free Online program via Zoom: 6:00PM
Draconid Meteor Shower peaks: Look for about 5 meteors per hour from a radiant around γ Draconis after 9:00 PM

October 9 (Dark Sky Weekend):

Okie-Tex Star Party begins: Ticketed, in-person event at Camp Billy Joe, Oklahoma (registration required): October 9 – 17
Northern Colorado Astronomical Society Star Party: Free, in-person event at Hermit Park Open Space (park admission required): 7:00 PM
CU Boulder Observatory Open House: Free, in-person event at Sommers-Bausch Observatory: 8:00PM

October 10 (Dark Sky Weekend):

Northern Colorado Astronomical Society Star Party: Free, in-person event at Jackson Lake State Park (park admission required): 7:00 PM
New Hunter’s Moon: 9:50AM

October 11 (Dark Sky Weekend):

Find Mars among all of the stars in the Beehive Cluster (M44), the red planet meets up with this beautiful open cluster low in the eastern sky in the constellation Cancer around 1:45 AM until dawn.
SCFD Free Day: Out at the Museum! Free, in-person event at Denver Museum of Nature and Science: 9:00 AM to close

This Week’s Solar System Summary:

The Sun shifts from rising about 7:00 AM to 7:06 AM, while sunset moves from 6:35 PM to 6:26 PM, continuing the steady shortening of daylight in October.
The Moon rises in the early morning at the start of the week and shifts into the morning and afternoon by the weekend, while moonset moves from late afternoon toward early evening. The New Moon occurs Saturday, October 10.
Mercury remains very low in the western sky after sunset and is difficult to see in the bright twilight. It sets shortly after the Sun, so a clear western horizon is essential.
Venus shines brilliantly very low in the western sky after sunset. It sets shortly after Mercury and is also difficult to see because of its low altitude, although its extreme brightness makes it possible to spot with a clear horizon.
Mars rises during the early morning hours and is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. It remains relatively faint but is gradually becoming brighter as Earth approaches it.
Jupiter rises during the early morning hours and is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. It is much brighter than Mars and is becoming an increasingly prominent morning target.
Saturn is visible throughout the night following its October 4 opposition. It rises around sunset, remains visible all night, and is an excellent target for telescopic observing this week.
Uranus rises during the evening and remains visible through the night. It is well placed for binocular and telescope observing, with dark skies making it possible for experienced observers to spot the planet without optical aid.
Neptune is visible throughout most of the night following its September 26 opposition. It remains well placed for evening and nighttime telescope observing, although its faintness requires optical aid.

This Week’s Meteoric Activity:

You can keep track of the activity of meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal.

Draconids (DRA): 9:00 PM in Draco: About 5 per hour during October 8 peak.
October Camelopardalids (OCT): 5:00 AM in Camelopardalis: About 5 per hour during October 5 peak.
Southern Taurids (STA): 2:00 AM in Pisces: About 3 per hour
Orionids (ORI): 5:00 AM in Orion: About 1–2 per hour
Daytime Sextantids (DSX): Not included: This is primarily a daytime shower and its radiant is too close to the Sun for useful nighttime observing.
October ξ-Eridanids (XIE): 5:00 AM in Eridanus: Less than 1 per hour. Peak October 11