October’s night sky features the Orionids meteor shower on 21-22 October, Saturn at its brightest, and all eight planets visible at different times through the month.
01Summary
- 01The Orionid meteor shower peaks on 21-22 October and can produce up to 20 meteors an hour from a dark-sky location.
- 02Saturn reached opposition on 4 October and is visible throughout the night after rising around sunset.
- 03Mercury is at elongation on Monday, making that day and the surrounding days the best time to see it.
- 04Venus stays close to the sun for most of October but should be visible just after sunset by 31 October.
- 05October’s full moon peaks on 26 October at 12:12 a.m. ET and is not a supermoon.
02Why it matters
Skywatchers have several clear targets this month, from a meteor shower peak to bright planets visible without waiting for special events. The main impact is more opportunities to see the night sky at its best, especially around the Orionids and the full moon.
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