Two meteor showers are lighting up the October sky—here’s how to see them

Two meteor showers will illuminate the October night sky, offering a spectacular display for skywatchers. The Draconid and Orionid meteor showers both peak during this month, providing a visual treat for those who know where and when to look. According to NASA, the Draconid shower is expected to reach its peak on October 8, while the Orionid shower will peak on October 21.

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the debris left behind by comets or asteroids as they orbit the sun. This debris, composed of dust and ice, burns up in our atmosphere, creating the beautiful streaks of light we call meteors or shooting stars. The Draconids, named after the constellation Draco, originate from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, a space rock measuring 1.24 miles (about two kilometers) in diameter.

The Orionids, similarly named after the constellation Orion, come from Halley’s Comet, which is about 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) in diameter at its widest.

The Draconids are the lesser of the two showers, with NASA predicting that this year's display will produce "a few meteors per hour." However, the good news is that the meteor shower begins soon after dark, making it accessible to casual skywatchers. The Orionids, on the other hand, offer more excitement, with the peak viewing window occurring before dawn on October 21.

To increase your chances of seeing meteors during this shower, NASA recommends finding an area with minimal light pollution and allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark for about 30 minutes.

While these two meteor showers are highlights of October, they are not the only celestial events to look forward to this fall. Two additional showers, the Southern and Northern Taurids, will peak on November 4-5 and 11-12, respectively. So, grab a blanket, head outside, and enjoy the celestial show that the universe has to offer.