October 2023

Thursday October 12

All Day
NASA could launch the Psyche mission to the asteroid belt.

In the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, there is an object that may be mostly made of metal, perhaps the leftover core of a would-be planet, called Psyche. A NASA mission of the same name aims to study it up close. A scheduled launch in 2022 was postponed because the spacecraft’s software was late. The mission will launch from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and it will enter orbit around the asteroid in 2029, three years later than originally planned.Read more about the Psyche mission here: https://nyti.ms/3H1ZMRR

Saturday October 14

All Day
An annular solar eclipse will cross the western United States and parts of Latin America

Some of the United States will be visited by what is sometimes called a “ring of fire” eclipse because the moon is too far from Earth to fully block the sun, creating a ring-like effect when it reaches totality. The eclipse’s path runs through parts of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before dipping into Central and South America. Where the weather cooperates, it should be a great solar show and a nice lead up for the total eclipse on Apr. 8, 2024, which will cross the United States from Southwest to Northeast. Read about a recent annular eclipse: https://nyti.ms/3vbgfzg

Friday October 20 – Saturday October 21

The Orionids meteor shower will peak in night skies

Starting in the evening of Oct. 20, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Orionids meteor shower. Learn more about how to watch meteor showers here: https://nyti.ms/3Z5d89W

November 2023

Wednesday November 15

All Day
Intuitive Machines may launch a commercial lunar lander mission

NASA has relied on private companies to create new capabilities for the government agency, such as building spacecraft to carry astronauts and cargo to orbit. It is now trying a similar approach for transporting scientific instruments to the moon. A Houston company, Intuitive Machines, may launch its IM-1 mission, using its Nova-C spacecraft to carry payloads to the lunar South Pole region, potentially making it the second spacecraft to land there. Intuitive Machines, flying on a SpaceX rocket, says it will launch as soon as Nov. 15.

Friday November 17 – Saturday November 18

The Leonids meteor shower will peak in night skies

Starting in the evening of Nov. 17, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Leonids meteor shower. Learn more about how to watch meteor showers here: https://nyti.ms/3Z5d89W

Event details and information on how to add events to your personal calendar can be found on the New York Times website.