When to Watch the Orionids and Other Celestial Phenomena in October
Skywatchers have a lot to look forward to in October, with the Southern Hemisphere crossing the Draconid and Orionid peaks and the “Ring of Fire” this month.
In addition to major celestial events, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will appear close to the Moon (and visible to the naked eye) on October 14, 21, and 23, respectively. All this, and Comet Tzuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible again when it passes close to Earth on October 12 .
Here’s what else is happening in the night sky this month.
Ring of Fire Eclipse (October 2)
This month’s annular solar eclipse will be visible in the southernmost hemisphere on October 2, especially in Argentina and Chile. A “ring of fire” eclipse is so named because the moon’s diameter does not completely block the sun—instead, it leaves a narrow ring of light shining from behind. Viewers from across South America and the Pacific Islands (from Hawaii to New Zealand) will be able to watch the partial screening, while everyone else will be able to watch the livestream starting at 11:42 a.m. ET.
Peak of the Draconid meteor shower (October 7–8)
The first of the month’s meteor showers will peak from the evening of October 7 to the early morning of October 8, and best viewing may begin around 9:00 pm local time when the Moon sets. The Draconid shower comes from the small comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner and can produce 10 meteors per hour in dark sky conditions.
Hunter’s Full Moon (October 17)
The October full moon will peak on the 17th at 7:26 am ET, with visibility beginning on the evening of October 16th. Supermoons appear larger and brighter due to their proximity to Earth. This month’s moon is known as the hunter’s moon and also has many indigenous names indicating the characteristics of the season.
Peak of the Orionids meteor shower (October 20–21)
The Orionid meteor shower is visible every October in the Northern Hemisphere during the passage of Halley’s Comet (the outgoing segment creates the Eta Aquariids in May). The shower typically produces 10–20 meteors per hour, with the potential for bright fireballs and long trails.
This year, the Orionid shower is active from September 26 to November 22, peaking on the evening of October 20 . Unfortunately, the moon will be bright, so visibility may be poor unless you are under a dark sky.