Topline The Orionid meteor shower is set to impress skywatchers overnight on Monday, Oct. 20 through Tuesday, Oct. 21, through.
With a new moon on Oct. 21, the night sky will be completely free of moonlight, offering some of the best viewing conditions in years — though viewing under dark, rural skies is recommended.
This year’s peak may come with a rare bonus, with comets Lemmon and SWAN best seen during a 30-minute window beginning about 90 minutes after sunset.
Check my feed every day this month for a daily “comet tracker” with finder charts and tips for viewing Comet Lemmon and Comet SWAN from mid-northern latitudes.
Also read How To Photograph The Green Comets, Best Stargazing Apps For Finding The Comets and 25 Dark Sky Parks In The U.S. To See The Comets.
topline.
Skywatchers are expected to be awed by the Orionid meteor shower overnight on Monday, October. 20 through Tuesday, October. from 21 onward. On October, there is a new moon. The night sky will be entirely moonlight-free on 21st, providing some of the best viewing conditions in years; however, it is advised to view under dark, rural skies. Due to the possibility of seeing Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) and Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2), as well as a Northern Lights display for the northern United States, that number doubles this year. S. states is another possibility.
Key Facts.
Can We See Two Comets?
A rare bonus could accompany this year’s peak: comets Lemmon and SWAN are best viewed within a 30-minute window starting roughly 90 minutes after sunset. Though more likely to be seen through binoculars, they could be visible to the unaided eye from overcast rural skies if they brighten sufficiently. Check my feed daily for a daily “comet tracker” with finder charts and advice on how to view the comets from mid-northern latitudes, as their positions in the night sky will vary greatly from night to night.
A Guide to Meteor Shower Observation.
To observe a meteor shower, all you need is your unaided eyes. It is actually almost impossible to see any meteors with binoculars or a telescope, so if you do have them, use them only for comets. Darker skies are preferable for meteors. According to NASA, you should avoid light pollution by traveling at least 20 to 30 miles outside of city limits and allowing your eyes to acclimate to the darkness. In the early hours of October, Orion will rise after midnight. Most likely to see “shooting stars” is number 22. “.”.
A good chance of seeing the northern lights.
The likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights in the northern United States is high. A. Canada and the United States on Monday, October. Twenty. Geomagnetic activity has been high for several nights after two coronal mass ejections traveled towards Earth from the sun’s surface. Alaska and (northerly portions of) Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Maine are likely to be among the states where the Northern Lights can be seen in the northern sky, according to NOAA’s most recent aurora viewlines.
Every day this month, check my feed for a daily “comet tracker” that includes finder charts and advice on how to view Comet Lemmon and Comet SWAN from mid-northern latitudes. Read more about 25 Dark Sky Parks in the United States, How to Take Pictures of the Green Comets, and the Best Apps for Stargazing Comets. S. . To view the comets.
Additional reading.
Forbes Scientists Say A Once-In-A-Lifetime Green Comet Could Soon Be Seen Forbes When To Watch The “Planet Parade” This Weekend As The Moon Joins In.
