In October 2026, astronomy enthusiasts will be able to observe two major meteor showers — the Draconids and the Orionids — as well as several less intense meteor showers. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Draconids meteor shower (October 6–10)
The Draconids peak on the night of October 8–9. Rate: 5 to 15 meteors per hour. However, this shower is known for its unpredictable outbursts, when intensity can rise sharply.
The peak coincides with a new moon, so the sky will be as dark as possible, and the thin crescent moon will not wash out even the faintest meteors.
**Where to look:** The shower's radiant lies in the constellation Draco. Unlike most other showers, the Draconids are best observed right after nightfall and in the first half of the night. The meteors have a reddish hue and move relatively slowly.
Orionids meteor shower (October 2 – November 7)
The second shower — the Orionids — runs from October 2 to November 7. Peak activity: on the night of October 21–22 (highest concentration after midnight and closer to 4 a.m.).
Rate: about 15–20 meteors per hour.
**Viewing conditions:** Unfavorable. A bright Moon at about 80% phase will create strong skyglow. Astronomers advise waiting until the second half of the night, when the Moon begins to set below the horizon and the shower's radiant rises higher.
**Where to look:** The meteors originate from a radiant in the constellation Orion. The Orionids are produced by the famous Halley's Comet. They are very fast (entering the atmosphere at 66 km/s) and often leave glowing trails behind them (tails of ionized gas).
Weaker showers
If you plan long night observations, over the course of the month you can spot meteors from weaker showers.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote about the September meteor showers.