Triple view

October’s night sky offers two excellent meteor showers and the best view of a giant ringed planet. Here are three worthy activities to look for this month:

Orionid Meteor Shower

1. The Orionid Meteor Shower ☄️| What & Why It’s Special | How & When to See It ||—|—|| What’s Special: The Orionids are the remnants of Comet 1P/Halley—yes, that Halley’s Comet! This makes them particularly notable. They are known for being fast and bright, occasionally producing brilliant, long-lasting trails (persistent trains) in the atmosphere. | Peak: The night of October 21–22. || Worthy of Seeing: Although it’s a modest shower (up to 10-20 meteors per hour), the link to one of history’s most famous comets makes it a must-see. The meteors are quick, adding excitement to the viewing. | Best Time: After midnight and before dawn on October 22. The radiant (where the meteors appear to originate) is highest in the sky just before sunrise. || | Viewing Conditions: Excellent in 2025 because the peak occurs near the New Moon (Oct 21), meaning minimal moonlight interference for the darkest skies. Look anywhere in the sky, but the shower radiates from the constellation Orion.

Draconid Meteor Shower

|2. The Draconid Meteor Shower 🐉| What & Why It’s Special | How & When to See It ||—|—|| What’s Special: The Draconids are debris from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Unlike most showers, their radiant point is highest in the sky in the evening, making them a great option for early night watchers and kids. Most years, it’s a minor shower (around 5-10 per hour), but it’s famous for periodic outbursts that have delivered meteor storms (hundreds or thousands per hour) in the past. | Peak: The evening of October 8. || Worthy of Seeing: The possibility of an unpredictable outburst is the main draw. Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner was recently at perihelion in March 2025, which might increase the chance of a better-than-average display. | Best Time: Soon after dusk and before midnight on October 8. ||

| Viewing Conditions: Unfavorable due to a very bright Full Moon (Oct 6) that will significantly wash out fainter meteors. You’ll need to face away from the Moon or use a building/tree to block its light to have the best chance. The radiant is in the constellation Draco (the Dragon). |

Saturn

3. Planet Saturn 🪐| What & Why It’s Special | How & When to See It ||—|—|| What’s Special: Saturn, the beautiful ringed gas giant, reached its brightest and closest point to Earth (opposition) in late September 2025, meaning it remains a spectacular object throughout October. | Peak: Visible all month long in the night sky. || Worthy of Seeing: Saturn is one of the most stunning celestial bodies, even through a small telescope. Its distinct, massive ring system makes it instantly recognizable and a favorite for amateur astronomers. | Best Time: Saturn is visible almost all night long in October. Look for it to rise in the east/southeast around sunset. || | Viewing Conditions: You can easily spot Saturn as a steady, bright yellowish “star” visible to the naked eye. To see its rings, you will need a small telescope. You can also observe it passing near the Moon in the first week of October: on October 5, the Moon passes close to Saturn. |

happy viewing