A Supermoon and Meteor Showers Take Center Stage in October Skies
This autumn, sky enthusiasts can look forward to a spectacular display of celestial events. In early October, the moon will be at its closest point to Earth, known as perigee, making it appear 30% brighter and up to 14% larger than usual.
But that's not all - this close proximity to our planet coincides with two notable meteor showers: the Draconid and Orionid meteors. The Draconid meteor shower is expected to peak around October 8th, producing up to 10 meteors per hour, while the Orionid meteor shower will reach its peak on October 21st, displaying about 20 meteors per hour.
The Draconid meteor shower originates from debris left behind by a comet and can be seen in the northern sky, primarily near the constellation Draco. The Orionid meteor shower, on the other hand, is caused by Earth passing through the trail of Halley's Comet and will appear in the eastern sky around midnight.
If you're lucky enough to have clear skies between October 6th and 10th, you might be able to catch a glimpse of these shooting stars. However, with the supermoon taking over the night sky, it may be more challenging to spot individual meteors. To make the most of this celestial event, find a dark location after sunset, look towards the southeast or northeast horizon (depending on your hemisphere), and enjoy the spectacle.
Remember, October also marks "International Observe the Moon Night," an annual worldwide event where moon enthusiasts come together to observe our natural satellite. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the moon with people all around the world.
Before we wrap up, here are some upcoming phases of the moon for October:
October 6th: Full Supermoon
October 8-10: Draconid Meteor Shower
October 21st: Orionid Meteor Shower
Stay up-to-date on NASA's missions exploring our solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov.
That's What's Up for this month from Chelsea Gohd of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This autumn, sky enthusiasts can look forward to a spectacular display of celestial events. In early October, the moon will be at its closest point to Earth, known as perigee, making it appear 30% brighter and up to 14% larger than usual.
But that's not all - this close proximity to our planet coincides with two notable meteor showers: the Draconid and Orionid meteors. The Draconid meteor shower is expected to peak around October 8th, producing up to 10 meteors per hour, while the Orionid meteor shower will reach its peak on October 21st, displaying about 20 meteors per hour.
The Draconid meteor shower originates from debris left behind by a comet and can be seen in the northern sky, primarily near the constellation Draco. The Orionid meteor shower, on the other hand, is caused by Earth passing through the trail of Halley's Comet and will appear in the eastern sky around midnight.
If you're lucky enough to have clear skies between October 6th and 10th, you might be able to catch a glimpse of these shooting stars. However, with the supermoon taking over the night sky, it may be more challenging to spot individual meteors. To make the most of this celestial event, find a dark location after sunset, look towards the southeast or northeast horizon (depending on your hemisphere), and enjoy the spectacle.
Remember, October also marks "International Observe the Moon Night," an annual worldwide event where moon enthusiasts come together to observe our natural satellite. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the moon with people all around the world.
Before we wrap up, here are some upcoming phases of the moon for October:
October 6th: Full Supermoon
October 8-10: Draconid Meteor Shower
October 21st: Orionid Meteor Shower
Stay up-to-date on NASA's missions exploring our solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov.
That's What's Up for this month from Chelsea Gohd of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
. And can we talk about how cool it is that there's an International Observe the Moon Night happening? It's like, we're all in this together, looking up at the same moon 
. Anyways, if you haven't got plans to check out these celestial events, what are you even waiting for? Get outside, find a comfy spot, and just enjoy the view! 
. Too bad we can't see individual meteors with all that bright moonlight 
. But hey, who needs clear skies when you've got a lunar spectacle to enjoy? Just grab some hot cocoa, get comfy, and gaze up at those celestial bodies 
, 'cause w/ that moon up high, spotting meteors might b tricky. u should try findin a spot after sunset, and look towards southeast or northeast horizon, depends on hemisphere 
. dont 4get, october's also International Observe the Moon Night 
! its like, worldwide thingy 
where ppl come together to observe moon. pretty cool, imo 
the Draconid & Orionid meteors are gonna light up the night sky & it's like, the perfect excuse to get outta my apartment & enjoy some fresh air 
they claim to help u spot meteors better... fingers crossed! 
. Meanwhile, the universe is just like, "Hey, I'm gonna put on a show, and you can't stop me!" It's a humbling thought, right?
). It's gonna be an unforgettable night!
. And what's with the overuse of acronyms? Who needs "NASA" when you're just talking about space stuff? 
. Can't we just have a clean and simple layout for once?
It's just gonna be a bunch of people running around with their phones trying to get the best pic of some blurry moon or shooting stars 
. Give me a quiet night at home with my Netflix and a good book any day 
️, even though they might be hard to spot with the supermoon around. 
can't wait for the international observe the moon night tho! 
️ it's gonna be a stellar event 
. It's amazing how many people get to come together around something as simple yet breathtakingly beautiful like the moon...it's almost like our shared human experience or something 
. Plus, October has some amazing phases of the moon lined up - I'm definitely planning on getting out and gazing at that supermoon Full Supermoon on the 6th. Bring on the stargazing fun!