As if the news on the ground weren't scary enough, this Halloween season is producing some really creepy images from the skies and even outer space.

The image above, used with permission from Tony Hallas at Astrophoto.com, shows glowing gas clouds in the star-forming region of the great nebula in the constellation Orion. I see a blood-red monkey face on the right, and the gaping jaws (and sparkling teeth) of a silvery ghost on the left (turn your head sideways, to the right). How about you?  

And here is a gallery of photos of ghostly Northern Lights displays from around the northern latitudes. You can see all sorts of spooks and wraiths there if you use your imagination.

Finally, as you're Trick or Treating with the kids (or the parents) tomorrow night, sneak a look at the western sky. You should see the bright planet Venus hanging above the first sliver of the very young crescent moon down near the western horizon.  It will look even better Saturday night. That's bright Jupiter high in the southwestern sky.