October’s Night Sky Notes: Spooky Stargazing

October's Night Sky Notes: Spooky Stargazing

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured an infrared image of a gas and dust cloud, shaped by a massive star. Researchers have dubbed this region the "Jack-o'-lantern Nebula" due to its eerie resemblance to a pumpkin carved by a ghoulish hand. The star at the center of this nebula is Algol, also known as the 'Demon Star' or 'The Ghoul'. This star can be seen in the constellation Perseus, along with Cassiopeia and Andromeda, during the autumn months after 9 PM.

In Greek mythology, Algol represents the 'blinking eye' of Medusa, a monstrous gorgon. However, the star's dimming isn't due to any supernatural powers but rather an astronomical phenomenon known as an 'eclipsing binary'. Algol is part of a triple-star system, with two stars orbiting one another. As these stars pass in front of each other, they cause the system to dim in brightness every three days, from a bright +2.1 magnitude to a slightly dimmer +3.4 magnitude.

To locate Algol, first find the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda in the northeastern sky. The star Almach can serve as a guide to find Algol, as it is the bright star in Andromeda. Once you've found Algol and its neighboring stars, you can compare its brightness to Almach using a small telescope or binoculars.

Further south, between the Eridanus and Orion constellations, lies a spooky silhouette illuminated by the star Rigel. This is the Witch Head Nebula, a reflection nebula about 900 light-years away from Earth. Due to its great distance, it is difficult to see with the naked eye, but large aperture telescopes and low magnification make it easier to find under dark skies. Astrophotographers can capture this eerie outline within a few hours, depending on their equipment and sky quality.

Finally, look to the constellation Cygnus to find the Witch's Broom, located in the Western Veil Nebula. This nebula is home to billowy clouds where new stars are being born. The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) captured an infrared portrait of the Witch Head Nebula, revealing the star-forming regions within.