Full moon, a comet, meteor shower and jupiter highlight tonight's sky over new jersey

Full Moon, A Comet, Meteor Shower and Jupiter Highlight Tonight’s Sky Over New Jersey

Posted by
1 min read
October 20, 2024

Full Hunter’s Supermoon
October’s full moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon, is in its supermoon form this year, meaning it’s bigger and brighter than usual. Though it officially peaked on October 17, it will still be shining gloriously tonight, dominating the sky as it rises in the east. This is your chance to see it in all its glowing glory, so get outside right after sunset!

Full moon, a comet, meteor shower and jupiter highlight tonight's sky over new jersey
Photo: full moon, a comet, meteor shower and jupiter highlight tonight's sky over new jersey

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
The rare and unpredictable Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is making its appearance in the evening sky this month. It was closest to Earth on October 12, but it’s still visible low in the west after sunset. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of its tail—binoculars or a telescope will help bring out the details. This comet hasn’t swung by in 80,000 years, so take a moment to look up at this interstellar visitor before it fades away.

Planets On Display
Tonight’s planetary lineup is not one to miss! Jupiter, the king of planets, will be the star of the show, rising just after 10 p.m. The full moon will be hanging out near Jupiter, making for an impressive sight. Saturn is also visible in the southeast just after dark, while Mars will rise later, around midnight. Grab your telescope to spot Jupiter’s moons or even some details on its cloud belts, like the famous Great Red Spot!

If you’re in New Jersey tonight, not only do you have the Full Hunter’s Supermoon to look forward to, but the Orionid meteor shower is also peaking! The Orionids are one of the highlights of October’s sky, caused by debris from none other than Halley’s Comet. Although the waning gibbous moon will be quite bright, making it harder to spot the fainter meteors, you can still catch some spectacular Orionids—particularly if you’re in a dark area away from city lights.

The best time to see the meteors will be between midnight and dawn. Expect around 10 to 20 meteors per hour if you’re in a dark spot, though moonlight may reduce that number. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, so looking toward the eastern sky around 2-3 a.m. is your best bet for seeing those fast, bright streaks.

Bundle up, grab some snacks, and get comfy under the sky for this cosmic show!

With clear skies (fingers crossed!), New Jersey will offer prime views of these epic celestial bodies. So bundle up, head outside, and enjoy this cosmic display!

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss