October brings two meteor showers: the brief Draconids, peaking this week with limited visibility due to a supermoon, and the more promising Orionids later in the month, which will offer better viewing conditions during a new moon.
Sky-gazers are in for a treat this October with two meteor showers, the Draconids and the Orionids. The Draconid meteor shower, known for its evening meteors, peaks briefly at 3 p.m. ET Wednesday. This shower is very quick, with its main activity lasting only a few hours as Earth passes through debris from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Unfortunately, this year's Draconids will be largely obscured by the brightness of a recent supermoon, making visible activity unlikely. For the best, though still limited, chance of spotting one, look toward the northern sky right as it gets dark. Historically, the Draconids have produced impressive meteor storms, like over 1,000 meteors per hour in 1933, when Earth crosses a concentrated debris path. However, the Orionid meteor shower, peaking in a few weeks, promises a much better show. Expected to produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour, the Orionids will peak during a new moon, ensuring significantly better visibility for stargazers.
