As October unfolds, stargazers have a unique opportunity to observe several renowned spacecraft that have significantly contributed to our understanding of the solar system. The evolution of space exploration over the past 70 years has led to the launch of thousands of advanced robotic missions, each designed to explore our planet, the Sun, and even interstellar space.
One of the most notable spacecraft is the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which was launched on December 25, 2021. Currently, JWST is positioned approximately 1.46 million kilometers from Earth, residing at Lagrange Point 2, a location that maintains a gravitational balance. Skywatchers can find JWST this month by locating the bright red star Aldebaran in the Taurus constellation around midnight. From there, they should scan slightly above to see the hazy glow of the Pleiades star cluster, with JWST situated about five degrees below it.
Another remarkable spacecraft is NASA”s Parker Solar Probe, which made history as the first spacecraft to physically touch the Sun on April 28, 2021. This probe is currently located millions of kilometers away from Earth. To locate it in the October night sky, observers should look towards the southwestern horizon at sunset. First, identify the star Antares within the Scorpius constellation, and then find the Parker Solar Probe about five degrees to the upper left, with the constellation Ophiuchus shining above.
Orbiting Jupiter since 2016, the Juno spacecraft is now approximately 464.8 million miles from our planet. Those wishing to spot Juno should look for the prominent stars Castor and Pollux in the Gemini constellation during the pre-dawn hours. Jupiter will be easily recognizable as a bright morning star, positioned lower right of these stars, while Juno orbits the planet, remaining invisible to the naked eye.
The New Horizons spacecraft, which was launched in January 2006 and completed a flyby of Pluto in July 2015, is now an astounding 5.88 billion miles from Earth. To find its location in October, look for the teapot asterism at the center of the Sagittarius constellation above the southern horizon after sunset. In a dark sky, the Milky Way band may be visible flowing through the spout of this stellar teapot.
Finally, Voyager 1, the most distant human-made object, is currently about 15.72 billion miles from Earth. To locate Voyager 1 this month, observers should look for stars within the Ophiuchus constellation near the western horizon at sunset. The highest point light in this constellation is the binary star system Rasalhague, with Kappa Ophiuchi situated in the lower right. Voyager 1″s position can be estimated along the imaginary line connecting these two stars.
