Stargazing Under the Halloween Night Sky: Uncover Spooky Celestial Wonders
What could be more thrilling than spending Halloween under the stars, gazing into the eerie depths of space? The universe hides secrets more terrifying than any horror tale: stars flickering like winking demons, gigantic cosmic spiders, blazing fireballs... Curious to uncover them all? Grab the Star Walk 2 app, your ultimate guide to the night sky this Halloween, and dare to explore the cosmos!
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A Halloween stargazing tale
On Halloween night, venture far from the city’s lights, into the dark, quiet countryside. The sky above will stretch out like an endless void, dotted with stars that flicker like hidden eyes watching your every move. Pull on your thickest coat. It’s going to be a long, cold night…
Don't go alone. Let your friends join — there’s safety in numbers.
Candy will be passed around, sweet relief in the eerie stillness. But beware of sticky hands — you’ll want to keep your lenses clean, and your equipment ready for what the night might show you. No smudges on the scope. The sky will offer no second chances.
The stars will call to you, a cosmic maze waiting to pull you in. But don't get lost — pull up the Star Walk 2 app, guiding you through the vast, haunted expanse. With this guide at your side, you won't be frightened by the ominous crimson glow of a scarlet star. Fearlessly point your phone at it and discover: it's no lurking demon, but the star Aldebaran. Even the most mystical of celestial events won't catch you off guard: just check the app's calendar, and the future will be revealed before your eyes.
By the end of the night, the fear will turn into wonder. You will have stared into the universe’s deepest mysteries and emerged smiling. “In the end,” you’ll say, “it’s all just for fun.”
Halloween night sky: what to see?
Halloween treats for all levels
Here you'll find the cosmic wonders anyone can see — no telescope needed. Just open your eyes and gaze into the haunting beauty of the night sky!
Headless Halloween Comet 2024
The Halloween in 2024 could be extra exciting, as the new Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) might become visible to the naked eye just around that time! However, there are concerns that the comet may disintegrate on its way to perihelion on October 28. Observers have noticed indirect signs that the comet's nucleus is breaking apart. In a worst-case scenario, it may disintegrate before reaching naked-eye visibility. But there's a possibility that's more in keeping with Halloween: a larger fragment could survive perihelion, only to break apart immediately afterward. In that case, we'll see a bright, headless comet lighting up the sky — spooky and beautiful!
Learn the latest news about Comet C/2024 S1 in our regularly updated article. Let's hope we get this treat on Halloween!
Halloween Moon
Some people call the October Full Moon the Halloween Moon because it occurs close to the holiday. However, this year’s Full Moon falls on October 17, well before Halloween. The next Full Moon to fall on Halloween night won’t be until 2039.
In 2024, on the night of October 31 to November 1, the sky will be moonless. This makes the night even spookier — a dark, mysterious sky perfect for Halloween. A moonless night is also ideal for stargazing, allowing us to spot the faintest celestial objects that would be obscured by the Moon's glow.
Halloween meteor shower — Taurids
- Constellation: Taurus
- Where to see: both hemispheres
Famous for producing bright bolides, the Taurids are also known as the “Halloween fireballs” because they are active from late October to early November. However, their peaks don't coincide with Halloween night: the Southern Taurids peak early on October 12-13, while their main peak is November 4-5. The Northern Taurids peak on November 11-12. To find out how to observe the Taurids, check out our dedicated article.
Betelgeuse
- Constellation: Orion
- Brightness: from 0.0 to 1.6 (variable)
- Where to see: both hemispheres
Don't say this star's name three times... or dare you? Tim Burton's horror-comedy character is directly inspired by this red supergiant star, Betelgeuse. Aside from its name, the star fascinates stargazers because it's destined to go supernova — possibly in our lifetime. We discuss more about Betelgeuse's potential supernova in our article. But even if we don't get to witness a supernova, Betelgeuse is a stunning sight in its own right.
Algol, the Demon Star
- Constellation: Perseus
- Brightness: from 2.1 to 3.4 (variable)
- Where to see: Northern Hemisphere
The star’s name Algol comes from the Arabic "Al-Ghul," which means ghoul. In Greek tradition, the constellation Perseus was once known as Perseus and Medusa's Head, with Algol representing part of Medusa's head, earning the title "the first star of the Gorgon". In Hebrew folklore, Algol was called "Satan's Head", while in the 16th century, it was known as "the Spectre's Head" in Latin.
Algol's eerie reputation may stem from its mysterious tendency to dim and brighten in just a few hours, a phenomenon that you can observe with the naked eye. At its brightest, Algol shines three times more intensely than at its faintest. Today, we know that Algol is actually two stars, and this spooky behavior happens when the dimmer star, Algol B, passes in front of the brighter Algol A, creating what astronomers call an eclipsing binary. The cycle repeats with clockwork regularity every 2 days, 20 hours and 49 minutes.
Trickier treats: deep-sky objects
In this chapter, we explore celestial treasures unseen by mortal eyes. Grab your magic lenses — binoculars or a telescope — and uncover the hidden wonders of the cosmos.
Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070)
- Constellation: Dorado
- Brightness: 8
- Where to see: Southern Hemisphere
The nebula gets its name from the arrangement of its bright spots, which resemble the legs of a tarantula. Taking the name of one of the largest spiders on Earth is quite fitting, as the nebula spans nearly 1,000 light-years — such a giant might just give you a case of cosmic arachnophobia!
The Owl Nebula (M97)
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Brightness: 9.9
- Where to see: Northern Hemisphere
In the depths of space, a celestial owl watches over us, gliding silently through the cosmos. The Owl Nebula can be seen with 20×80 binoculars and small telescopes, but you'll need a perfectly dark sky and be prepared that it will only look like a faint ball of light. To see its owl-like eyes, you'll need a telescope at least 10 inches in diameter.
Skull Nebula (NGC 246)
- Constellation: Cetus
- Brightness: 8
- Where to see: both hemispheres
The Skull Nebula earns its spooky name from its oval shape and dark voids that resemble a skull. Although its magnitude is listed at around 8, it's harder to spot than it may seem due to its large size and low surface brightness. To get the best view of NGC 246, wait until it's high in the sky and use a telescope with at least a 200mm aperture.
Nebulae often take on shapes that remind us of things from Earth. Can you tell which is which? Take our quiz and match each nebula to its name just by its appearance!
Witch Head Nebula (NGC 1909)
- Constellation: Eridanus
- Brightness: 13
- Where to see: both hemispheres
The Witch Head Nebula earned its spooky nickname because its shape resembles the profile of a wicked witch. The Witch Head Nebula is quite large but faint, so you'll need a 200-300mm wide-field telescope to capture the whole nebula in one frame.
Need more deep-sky objects to observe around Halloween? Check out our articles on the best DSOs in October and in November.
Halloween night sky: bottom line
The Halloween night sky holds countless cosmic treats, from twinkling stars to eerie nebulae. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a curious beginner, there's something up there to captivate you. With Star Walk 2 as your guide, you'll be able to locate every celestial wonder that will leave you in awe. The universe is waiting, so gather your courage and reach for the stars!
