During October, stargazers can observe several prominent constellations including Perseus, Cassiopeia, and Andromeda in the northeast sky. The best time to view these celestial formations is typically after 9:00 PM. A notable feature within the constellation Perseus is Algol, nicknamed ‘Demon Star’ or ‘The Ghoul,’ which exhibits a distinctive blinking pattern. This behavior stems from an orbiting companion star that periodically passes between Algol and Earth, causing a dimming effect. Ancient Greeks associated this phenomenon with the ‘blinking eye’ of the gorgon Medusa, adding a rich mythological layer to its observation.
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This PlaneNews briefing summarizes reporting originally published by www.nasa.gov.
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