Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

    Monday 14th to Sunday 20th October 2024

    I'll start with something for the naked eye on the evening of Monday 14th - the chance to observe an 89%-lit waxing gibbous Moon, with Saturn just above and to the right of it. Around 8pm, the pair will be located towards the south east.



    Saturn will have a magnitude of about +0.7 which is quite bright, but the Moon will be creating some light pollution and spoiling the contrast.

    If you repeat the exercise at the same time the following evening, the Moon will be 95%-lit and to the right of it you will find planet Neptune.



    Neptune will only have a magnitude of +7.7 so you will need to dig out those binoculars or a telescope.

    Look towards the east just as it's getting dark on the evening of Thursday 17th to see what will then be a full Moon rising above the horizon. This happens to coincide with lunar perigee this month, when the Moon is closest during its orbit around us, so this particular full Moon is called a "Supermoon". At perigee, our celestial neighbour is 226,000 miles away from us.

    A Supermoon appears to be 14% larger and 30% brighter than a "Micromoon" that occurs at apogee, when the Moon is furthest away from us at 253,000 miles.



    Because the Moon will be near the horizon, your eyes and brain play a trick on you known as "Moon Illusion" which makes it artificially look even bigger!



    www.starsoversomerset.com
    Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium
    Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2024

    More from Community & Charity News

    • Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

      Monday 1st to Sunday 7th September 2025

    • Improved Transport Links

      Somerset could benefit from safer roads, more trains, and improved links to local employment under a range of major transport schemes proposed by the Peninsula Transport group.

    • Courier Fraud

      Avon and Somerset Police are asking jewellers, taxi and private vehicle hire drivers, for help with tackling so-called courier fraud.

    • Wheelie Bins

      Somerset Council and its waste collections contractor SUEZ are urging people not to put gas canisters in kerbside recycling bins.

    • Bus Route Changes

      Changes to Somerset bus routes have been made with new stops added and times revised.

    • False Fire Alarms

      Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says it’s dealing with an increase in false alarm calls.

    • Dog DNA

      Avon and Somerset Police are encouraging dog owners to protect their pets from theft by entering their details into a DNA doggy database.

    • Mobile Phones in Vehicles

      Somerset County Council’s road safety team is working with partners to urge drivers to keep their fixed eyes on the road.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Light rain shower

      High: 19°C | Low: 12°C

    • Chard

      Light rain shower

      High: 18°C | Low: 11°C

    • Crewkerne

      Light rain shower

      High: 18°C | Low: 11°C

    • Somerton

      Light rain shower

      High: 19°C | Low: 11°C

    • Wincanton

      Light rain shower

      High: 18°C | Low: 11°C

    Recently Played