Long, cool autumn nights in North America will be a great month for stargazing, with the night sky delighting stargazers of all ages, including two meteor showers. Here are the top astronomical events to mark on your calendar for October.
Super Harvest Moon: October 6
October will begin with a striking lunar event: the first of three consecutive supermoons. Supermoons appear slightly larger and brighter than other full moons because the Moon is closer to Earth than usual.
This event has special significance. It is also the Harvest Moon, named after the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. It usually falls in September, but 2025 is one of the few years where it falls in early October.
The result will be a Super Harvest Moon that will last from the night of Monday, October 6, until the morning of Tuesday, October 7.
Draconid Meteor Shower: October 8-9
The Draconids are the first on the October meteor calendar, peaking Wednesday evening, October 8, and lasting until the early morning of Thursday, October 9.
This is a weak meteor shower, typically producing up to 10 meteors per hour. This year, the nearly full moon will blur many of the faint streaks, but brighter meteors may still attract attention.
Unlike most meteor showers, the Draconids are best observed in the evening, before midnight, according to EarthSky. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.
Orionid Meteor Shower: October 22-23
One of the best meteor showers of the fall will peak on the night of Wednesday, October 22, into the morning of Thursday, October 23, when the Orionids peak.
This year is expected to be favorable for observing, as the meteor shower coincides with the new moon, meaning the sky will be especially dark, especially compared to the Draconids observed earlier in October. According to the American Meteorological Society, observers can expect to see about 20 shooting stars per hour.
The Orionids are named after the constellation Orion, from which the meteors appear to originate. Some meteors may appear earlier in the night, but activity increases as Orion rises higher in the sky after midnight.
Sourse: www.upi.com
