Dark Sky News

Saturn is in Pisces and should be in prime viewing location for our Star Watch! Also, constellations Pegasus and Andromeda are coming up, hosting a number of beautiful galaxies!

The Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. Unfortunately the glare from the nearly full moon will block most of the meteors this year, so I’d probably forget about this one! Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. This is an excellent year for the Orionids. The moon will be absent all night long, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky. Maybe there will be some stragglers for our Star Watch!