Derekscope

Orionids

• The Orionids are one of the most spectacular annual meteor showers, created by debris left behind by Halley’s Comet as Earth passes through its trail.
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• For the best chance of seeing them, find a dark location away from city lights, allow your eyes time to adjust, and look towards a wide area of the sky.
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• No telescope is needed – just patience and clear skies!

• Orioninds Meteor Shower 2026
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  – Beginning to ending date: 2nd October to 7th November
  – Peak Date: 21st October
  – Rating: Strong
  – Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 20 per hour
  – Radiant Position: RA: 06h 24m / DEC: +15°
  – Degrees: 096º  (Face: East)
  – Comet: Comet 1P/Halley
  – Note: Fast meteors, many with trains / Good in 2006.
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The Moon’s Jewelled Handle

(Photo above The Jewelled Handle ~ Image by Derek Rowley)
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• The Jewelled Handle or Golden Handle
  The Moon’s Golden Handle is visible from the UK once each lunar month, roughly 2-4 days after First Quarter Moon, when the Sun grazes the Montes Jura and lights their peaks while Sinus Iridum is still in darkness ~ this creates the bright “handle” effect along the terminator.
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• After the First Quarter Moon (half-moonlit), the Moon increases towards the Full Moon in the waxing gibbous phase ~ the time when the Jewelled handle shines brightest.
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• This effect is only visible for a few days each month ~ roughly 2-4 days after the first quarter Moon.
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• Equipment
  You will need a small telescope or binoculars (8×42 or 10×50) are enough to show the arc beautifully.
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British Deaf Astronomical Association
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Autumn Equinox Sky Camp
Monday 4th October – Monday 12th October 2026
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Weybourne, North Norfolk
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• We’ve published our report covering this year’s outreach activities.
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• Take a look at what we achieved together and enjoy the photos from our events.
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Click here to read
the report and view the photos

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Lunar V & X

• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  Not visible for the UK Observers for this month.
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  –…Today: Sunday 18th October 2026
  –…Start formation: not visible
  –…Peak visibility: not visible
  –…Fade disappearing: not visible
  –…Visible: not visible (below the horizon)
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• The next one will be on Monday 16th November 2026.
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  Not visible for the UK Observers for this month.
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  –…Today: Sunday 18th October 2026
  –…Start formation: not visible
  –…Peak visibility: not visible
  –…Fade disappearing: not visible
  –…Visible: not visible (below the horizon)
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• The next one will be on Monday 16th November 2026.
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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First Quarter Moon

• Rises around noon and sets around midnight, appearing high in the southern sky during the early evening.
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• This is one of the best phases for telescopic observation, as the low Sun angle along the terminator casts long shadows that reveal craters, mountains, and valleys in striking detail.
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The Moon at apogee

• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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Mercury at greatest elongation east

• Viewers in the Northern Hemisphere will find Mercury very low to the ground and difficult to spot due to a shallow angle of the ecliptic relative to the horizon at this time of year.
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Daylight Moon–Venus Conjunction ~ A difficult observation

• Daylight Glare
  At 17:30 BST, the Sun has not yet set in the UK (sunset is around 18:10 BST). Mercury and the 2-day-old crescent Moon will be lost entirely in the bright daylight sky.
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• A challenging daylight capture!
  Venus will appear close to the thin crescent Moon, but finding and photographing both against the bright daytime sky will require careful timing, focus and exposure.
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Mars is passing right through Messier 44 (Beehive Custer)

• Mars looks like a small orange-red point against the cluster’s many stars. (According to Derekscope’s highlight: Mars inside Messier 44)
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• Binoculars are ideal for seeing both together.
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• A telescope at low magnification can also work well.
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