Celebrating the Spooky Season in the Night Sky
As October rolls in, it’s time to embrace the Halloween spirit, including some cosmic curiosities from NASA that fit the theme perfectly. Here’s a look at two spooky celestial objects to explore this season.
The Demon Star: Algol
Algol (Beta Persei) is a fascinating star located in the Perseus constellation. Its odd variability in brightness can be traced back over 3,200 years, originally noted by ancient Egyptians. However, it was not until 1667 that Italian astronomer Geminiano Montanari provided concrete observations of its behavior.
Algol, often referred to as the “Demon Star” or “The Ghoul,” has a mythological connection to Medusa, representing her blinking eye. This fascinating star is part of a triple-star system, with two stars orbiting a third, causing Algol’s brightness to fluctuate between +2.1 and +3.4 magnitude every three days. During autumn nights in the northeastern sky, you can find Algol near the Andromeda and Cassiopeia constellations.
Using the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda, locate Perseus. You can find Algol by using the star Almach as a guide. Credit: NASA / Stellarium
Light curve of the eclipsing binary star Algol recorded by NASA’s TESS. Credit: NASA / Wikipedia Commons
The Witch Head Nebula
Another spooky sight in the cosmos is the Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118), located about 900 light-years away between the Orion and Eridanus constellations. This impressive gaseous formation, despite being faint, resembles a witch with a hooked nose and a floppy hat.
The nebula gets its name from the fact that it can be identified with the nearby star Rigel. The Witch Head Nebula features a delightful shape that truly embodies the Halloween spirit—including the nearby Witch’s Broom within the Western Veil Nebula in Cygnus.
An infrared portrait of the Witch Head nebula from NASA’s WISE, shows billowy clouds where new stars are brewing. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
For those wishing to catch a glimpse of this spooky nebula, NASA recommends using a telescope in a dark area. Although difficult to see with the naked eye, the Witch Head Nebula can still enchant stargazers.
Celebrate with a Hunter’s Moon
As Halloween approaches, don’t forget to appreciate the beauty of the night sky, with a Hunter’s Moon set to illuminate the sky on October 26. Enjoy the seasonal astronomy while you explore these cosmic mysteries!
Andrew Paul is a staff writer for Popular Science.
