October's night sky offers a 'spooky' show, NASA skywatching guide says

NASA's October Night Sky Notes point skywatchers toward a fittingly seasonal target: Algol, a star in the constellation Perseus known by the nickname "Demon Star," or "The Ghoul."

Algol is visible during the autumn months and can be spotted in the northeastern sky beginning around 9 p.m., alongside the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda, according to NASA's guide.

The star's ominous nickname traces back to Greek mythology, where it is associated with the "blinking eye" of Medusa, the gorgon whose gaze was said to turn onlookers to stone.

A guide for autumn stargazers

NASA's Night Sky Network regularly publishes seasonal guides to help amateur astronomers and casual observers locate notable stars, planets and constellations visible from Earth. The October edition leans into the Halloween season, framing Algol and its mythological backstory as a highlight for stargazers looking for an appropriately spooky subject as the nights grow longer.

Skywatchers hoping to find Algol are advised to look toward the northeastern sky after nightfall, using the more recognizable, W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia as a reference point before locating Perseus and Andromeda nearby.