Get Ready for a Stellar October: A Supermoon, Meteor Showers, and More
As the last week of September gives way to the first week of October, space enthusiasts are in for a treat. This month marks the appearance of a supermoon, two spectacular meteor showers from the Draconids and Orionids, and other celestial events that will capture your attention.
First up is a supermoon, which occurs when a new or full moon coincides with "perigee," the point at which the moon is closest to Earth. This happens about twice a year and results in a larger-than-usual full moon. On October 6th, look for a bigger and brighter moon than usual, as it appears 30% brighter and up to 14% larger.
But what makes this supermoon extra special? It coincides with International Observe the Moon Night, an annual event that encourages people worldwide to gaze at our natural satellite. So mark your calendars for October 4th, when you can attend or host a moon-viewing party or simply observe the Moon from anywhere.
Just days after the supermoon will pass, the Draconid meteor shower makes its appearance. This annual event occurs in mid-October and is caused by debris trailing behind the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner as it burns up in Earth's atmosphere. Meteor rates can reach up to 10 per hour, making this a great time for stargazers. Look for meteors originating from near the head of the constellation Draco in the northern sky.
Next up is the Orionid meteor shower, peaking on October 21st and producing an astonishing 20 meteors per hour across the night sky. The debris responsible for these meteors comes from Halley's Comet, which burns up in our atmosphere as Earth passes through its trail. Catch this spectacular show by finding a dark location after sunset and looking to the southeast or northeast.
Other highlights of October include two planetary alignments: Jupiter's opposition on October 20th and Saturn's superior conjunction on November 11th.
For those interested in staying up-to-date with all things NASA, visit science.nasa.gov for information on ongoing missions exploring our solar system.
As the last week of September gives way to the first week of October, space enthusiasts are in for a treat. This month marks the appearance of a supermoon, two spectacular meteor showers from the Draconids and Orionids, and other celestial events that will capture your attention.
First up is a supermoon, which occurs when a new or full moon coincides with "perigee," the point at which the moon is closest to Earth. This happens about twice a year and results in a larger-than-usual full moon. On October 6th, look for a bigger and brighter moon than usual, as it appears 30% brighter and up to 14% larger.
But what makes this supermoon extra special? It coincides with International Observe the Moon Night, an annual event that encourages people worldwide to gaze at our natural satellite. So mark your calendars for October 4th, when you can attend or host a moon-viewing party or simply observe the Moon from anywhere.
Just days after the supermoon will pass, the Draconid meteor shower makes its appearance. This annual event occurs in mid-October and is caused by debris trailing behind the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner as it burns up in Earth's atmosphere. Meteor rates can reach up to 10 per hour, making this a great time for stargazers. Look for meteors originating from near the head of the constellation Draco in the northern sky.
Next up is the Orionid meteor shower, peaking on October 21st and producing an astonishing 20 meteors per hour across the night sky. The debris responsible for these meteors comes from Halley's Comet, which burns up in our atmosphere as Earth passes through its trail. Catch this spectacular show by finding a dark location after sunset and looking to the southeast or northeast.
Other highlights of October include two planetary alignments: Jupiter's opposition on October 20th and Saturn's superior conjunction on November 11th.
For those interested in staying up-to-date with all things NASA, visit science.nasa.gov for information on ongoing missions exploring our solar system.
. and don't even get me started on the meteor showers, they're always so crowded on those dark sky websites and apps, can't we just have some alone time to stargaze for once? 
and what's up with all these events being scheduled on the same days as major holidays? it's like the universe is trying to be too convenient or something 
. btw has anyone noticed that the planet alignments are still kinda hard to predict, like can't we just have a more reliable calendar system for once? 
So I'm loving the fact that we're getting a supermoon and two awesome meteor showers this month! October is literally going to be out of this world 
It's crazy how some events in space can coincide with human celebrations like International Observe the Moon Night - it just shows how connected our planet is to the universe, right? 
I'm definitely adding these celestial events to my calendar and hoping to catch a glimpse of them myself. The Orionid meteor shower sounds especially intense – 20 meteors per hour? That's crazy! 
The Draconid and Orionid meteors are gonna light up the sky, and with rates of 10-20 per hour, that's like a METEOR EXPLOSION!!! 
and ppl r already talkin bout how epic it's gonna look! not to mention the meteor showers later this month, idc if ur a space nerd or just curious, these are def events u dont wanna miss 
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october's gonna be lit! i love how international observe the moon night is a thing now, it's like we're all connected lookin at the same moon, feelin the same stargaze vibes. and meteor rates can reach up to 10 per hour?! that's just crazy 
gotta find a dark spot & get ready for some epic showin'! btw, did u know halley's comet is responsible for those amazin orionid meteors? 
. I mean, I'm good, I've got Netflix and my bed to keep me company.
. Just don't expect me to join in on the celestial fan fest.
. Mark your calendars for Oct 4th - it's Observe the Moon Night 
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. I mean, who needs a fancy party when you can just gaze at the moon with a bunch of strangers and enjoy some breathtaking views of meteors streaking across the sky? International Observe the Moon Night is literally my jam 
. I'm gonna be up all night, gazing at the stars and just taking it all in. Bring on October!
It's like something straight outta a sci-fi movie, you know? I was always fascinated by Halley's Comet, hope this is the one that puts on a show for us in October 
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. And omg, the meteor showers? Forget about it 
and I'm planning a moon-viewing party with friends 
. And omg the Draconid and Orionid showers are gonna be epic 
and those meteor rates are going to be insane up to 10 meteors per hour 
u gotta mark that calendar! and meteor showers r like, whoa! draconids & orionids are two separate events, but both r gonna be epic 
️ 10 meteors per hour is crazy talk! anyone got a dark spot to stargaze from? saturn's alignment on nov 11th sounds cool too... guess we'll have some awesome pics of the planets 
