Two meteor showers light up the October sky
The Draconids peak this week and the Orionids follow later this month, with viewing conditions varying due to moonlight.
Stargazers can follow two well-known meteor showers this month. The Draconids reach their peak around 8 and 9 October, while the Orionids will be visible around 21 and 22 October.
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through a comet’s trail of dust. These particles burn up high in the atmosphere and appear from the ground as brief streaks of light. The meteors do not come from a single point in space, but because of perspective they appear to come from a so-called radiant in a constellation.
The Draconids are linked to comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. According to NASA, the shower is particularly suitable for observation in the early evening, because the radiant is relatively high as soon as it gets dark. The shower is usually modest, but can sometimes produce unexpectedly more meteors.
The Orionids are caused by dust originating from Halley’s Comet. NASA expects the peak on the night of 21 to 22 October. Under ideal conditions, dozens of meteors per hour may be visible, but that is a theoretical upper limit. Cloud cover, light pollution and the brightness of the Moon often make a major difference in practice.
For observers in the Netherlands, dark places outside cities are most suitable. A telescope is not necessary: the human eye can take in a large part of the sky at once. It helps to allow at least twenty minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness and not look at a brightly lit phone screen.
The two showers are not an indication of any particular change in the Solar System. They are annual celestial phenomena associated with the Earth’s orbit and the dust trails of comets. The precise activity does, however, remain dependent on the distribution of dust particles and conditions at the time of the peak.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The astronomical explanation, peak dates and practical viewing information were checked against NASA and EarthSky. Expected numbers are presented as applying under ideal conditions, not as a guarantee.
- confirmed The Draconids peak around 8 and 9 October 2026. — NASA and EarthSky give this period as the shower’s peak. source
- confirmed The Orionids peak around 21 and 22 October 2026. — NASA names the night of 21 to 22 October as the peak period. source
- confirmed The Orionids consist of dust particles from Halley’s Comet. — NASA describes the origin of the Orionids. source
- confirmed The Draconids are connected with comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. — The meteor shower is linked to this comet in astronomical overviews. source
Editor's note
The peak dates and the origin of both meteor showers have been confirmed by NASA and an independent astronomy publication. Visibility by location remains dependent on weather and moonlight.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „meteorenzwerm draconiden”
- Trouw — „meteorenzwerm draconiden”
- NRC — „meteorenzwerm draconiden”