Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth - Ptolemy
Babe Among the Stars, October
American astronaut Dr Charles Duke Jr was born on 3 October, 1935. He holds the title of the youngest man to walk upon the surface of the Moon. His plaudits include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and South Carolina's 1973 'Man of the Year'.
4 October, 1957, marked the start of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik I.
World Space Week is celebrated between 4 October and 10 October, and recognised in 50countries; this year the theme will be 'Exploring the Universe'.
To celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition
- the United Nations General Assembly
Dutch astronaut André Kuipers was born on 5 October, 1958. During his career he has spent nine days aboard the International Space Station.
Nikolay Chernykh was a Russian astronomer who was born on 6 October, 1931. Nikolay and his wife worked at an observatory in the Ukraine. Altogether he spent over 40 years discovering and cataloguing asteroids. Among the couple's discoveries were two periodic comets which bear their name. Nikolay passed away in May 2004.
On 10 October, 1967, the Outer Space Treaty became officially recognised. According to the United Nations Treaties and Principles on Space Law the treaty has been officially sanctioned by 98 countries with a further 27 pending. Among the edicts are: the domain of outer space, the activities carried out therein and whatever benefits might accrue therefrom should be devoted to enhancing the well-being of all countries and humankind.
October Diary Dates
- 01: Mars 5° north of the Moon
- 02: Venus 5° north of the Moon
- 04: Antares (alpha Scorpii) 0.1° north of the Moon
- 04-10: World Space Week
- 07: Jupiter 2° north of the Moon
- 14: Full Moon (The Hunter's Moon)
- 20/21: Orionids meteor shower maximum - anticipate up to 25 meteors per hour if conditions are favourable.
- 25: Saturn 5° north of the Moon
- 26: Venus 3° north of Antares
- 27: Mercury 7° north of the Moon
- 28: New Moon
- 30: Mercury 4° north of Spica (alpha Virginis)
- 31: Antares 0.06° south of the Moon - viewers in the Southern Hemisphere will witness an occultation.
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