October skywatching guide: Super Harvest Moon and meteor showers illuminate the month
The month is filled with a Supermoon and two meteor showers worth looking out for.
FILE: Total lunar eclipse seen from space
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Jonny Kim captured views of September's total lunar eclipse from the International Space Station.
October is the first full month of fall, bringing cooler temperatures, Halloween and some exciting skywatching events that you don't want to miss.
The month is filled with a Supermoon and two meteor showers worth looking out for.
Full Harvest Supermoon
October kicks off with the Super Full Harvest Moon on Oct. 6.
The Supermoon will rise in the east just after sunset, according to EarthSky.org.
It's called a Supermoon because the moon is close to Earth, making it appear a little larger than usual.
The Harvest Moon is the moon closest to the autumn equinox, EarthSky reported. So, while September's full moon occurred earlier in the month on Sept. 7, the October full moon is closer to the equinox, which occurred on Sept. 22.
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<strong>BATH, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 16: The almost full harvest supermoon rises behind the recently restored Beckford's Tower on September 16, 2024 in Bath, England. </strong>
(Matt Cardy)
Draconid Meteor Shower
The Draconids Meteor Shower is predicted to peak on Oct. 8.
According to EarthSky.org, the best time to watch the Draconids in 2025 is as darkness falls on the evening of Oct. 8 through the wee hours of the morning on Oct. 9.
A thick waning gibbous Moon will light up the sky, following the Super Harvest Moon. So try to block it out to get the best view of the meteors.
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A fisherman watches a meteor during the Draconid meteor shower over Howick rocks in Northumberland. Picture date: Sunday October 10, 2021.
(Owen Humphreys/PA Images / Getty Images)
The Draconids are likely to only produce a few meteors per hour, but some years offer more exciting shows than others, according to EarthSky.
In rare instances, the Draco constellation has been known to spew forth hundreds of meteors in a single hour.
EarthSky said the possibility of a fury of meteors from the Draconids keeps many skygazers outside for many hours a night, hoping to catch a glimpse.
It looks unlikely that such an explosion of meteors will happen this year, but the odds aren't zero.
Orionid meteor shower
The Orionids, another spectacular and popular meteor show, will peak around midnight on Oct. 21.
But, the meteor shower is visible from late September to late November, according to EarthSky.org.
These meteors are known for their brightness and their speed, according to NASA.
The start of the peak will be around dusk on Oct. 20.
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YULI, CHINA - OCTOBER 22: A meteor streaks across the sky over a desert during the Orionid meteor shower on October 22, 2023 in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.
(VCG/VCG )
The Orionids can sometimes also produce fireballs, so look for bright explosions of light when viewing.
This year, the Orionids will peak around the New Moon, so moonlight shouldn't interfere with seeing the shower.
NASA says to be patient when looking for the Orionids, as the show can last until dawn.
Happy Halloween!
Though no spectacular celestial events are forecast for All Hallow's Eve, a waxing gibbous Moon will illuminate the night sky for any spooky festivities.
A white-eared bulbul perches on a tree branch as the waxing gibbous moon rises behind, in Kuwait City on October 6, 2022.
(YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP) / Getty Images)