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October meteor shower now active. How to see the Orionids in California

October meteor shower now active. How to see the Orionids in California

Here's how you can find the best viewing times, dark-sky locations and tips for spotting the Orionid meteor shower in October 2026 across California.
Asheville Citizen-TimesAsheville Citizen-Times
Orionid meteor shower is here. See 2026 peak dates, more in Western NC

Orionid meteor shower is here. See 2026 peak dates, more in Western NC

A waxing gibbous moon is expected during the peak of the Orionids meteor shower dates. Here's how, when to get the best view for 2026.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Draconid Meteor Shower to Peak in October 2026 with Optimal Viewing Conditions

Draconid Meteor Shower to Peak in October 2026 with Optimal Viewing Conditions

The Draconid meteor shower is set to be active from October 6 to 10, 2026, with its peak viewing period expected on the night of October 8-9. Unlike many other meteor showers, the Draconids are notable for being visible early in the evening, making them accessible to a wider audience. The peak is theoretically around 3:00 a.m. Paris time on October 9, but the early evening visibility is a key characteristic. Optimal viewing conditions are anticipated due to a New Moon on October 10, 2026, which will result in a nearly invisible moon and a dark sky, free from light pollution. The shower originates from the dust left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. While average activity is typically 5 to 10 meteors per hour, their slow entry into the atmosphere at approximately 20 km/s allows them to leave long, easily observable trails.
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Katherine Whitaker Leads Hubble and Webb Deep Public Frontier Field Project at UMass Amherst

Katherine Whitaker Leads Hubble and Webb Deep Public Frontier Field Project at UMass Amherst

Katherine Whitaker, affiliated with the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, is leading a significant project titled 'Fulfilling the UV Legacy of the Hubble and Webb Deep Public Frontier Field.' This initiative has been allocated 72 orbits of observation time by the Hubble Telescope Allocation Committee (TAC). The project is listed under Cycle 32 of the Hubble programs, indicating a recent and ongoing allocation of resources for this research. Whitaker is also noted for a previous project in Cycle 24, 'A Chance Alignment: Resolving a Massive Compact Galaxy Actively Quenching at z=1.8,' which received 12 orbits.
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Powerful Solar Eruption Could Enhance Northern Lights Over U.S. This Week

Powerful Solar Eruption Could Enhance Northern Lights Over U.S. This Week

A powerful M1.4-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region AR4549 on October 6, launching a coronal mass ejection (CME) towards Earth. Early observations and modeling, including NOAA's WSA-ENLIL model, suggest the leading edge of this CME is expected to reach Earth around 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT) on October 9. Forecasters at Belgium's Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (SIDC) estimate the CME is traveling at approximately 560 km/s and has an Earth-directed component. This event has captured the attention of aurora chasers, as it could lead to enhanced Northern Lights displays, potentially visible at lower latitudes than usual. However, the exact strength of the geomagnetic storm and how far south the auroras will be visible remain uncertain, as CME arrival forecasts carry inherent variability.
Palm Beach PostPalm Beach Post
October meteor shower now active. How to see the Orionids in Florida

October meteor shower now active. How to see the Orionids in Florida

Here's how you can find the best viewing times, dark-sky locations and tips for spotting the Orionid meteor shower in October 2026 across Florida.
Arizona RepublicArizona Republic
October meteor shower now active. How to see the Orionids in Arizona

October meteor shower now active. How to see the Orionids in Arizona

Here's how you can find the best viewing times, dark-sky locations and tips for spotting the Orionid meteor shower in October 2026 across Arizona.
Arizona RepublicArizona Republic
Did you see the bright green fireball? Meteor lights up Arizona sky

Did you see the bright green fireball? Meteor lights up Arizona sky

No, that wasn't a firework. A bright green fireball glided through the Arizona sky on Tuesday morning. Here's what you saw.
ReutersReuters
'Ghost particle' hunter Francis Halzen wins 2026 Nobel Physics Prize

'Ghost particle' hunter Francis Halzen wins 2026 Nobel Physics Prize

STOCKHOLM, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Belgian-American particle physicist Francis Halzen won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for ground-breaking work creating an observatory to detect some of the universe's most elusive particles, high-energy neutrinos, and how they are created.
1Weather1Weather
Light Pollution and Smoke Obscure Philly Suburb Skies

Light Pollution and Smoke Obscure Philly Suburb Skies

Stargazing enthusiasts in the Philadelphia suburbs are facing challenges due to increasing light pollution and wildfire smoke. During the International Observe the Moon Night at Lake Nockamixon in Bucks County, participants struggled to see stars clearly as a milky haze and city lights obscured the night sky. Wildfire smoke from Canada, which drifted across the mid-Atlantic region in 2025 and 2026, has further worsened visibility, contributing to Code Red air-quality alerts. The combination of artificial light and fine particulate matter in the air has significantly impacted the ability to enjoy clear night skies. (Source time: Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT)
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NASA Hubble Telescope Data Reveals Potential Second-Generation Planet Around White Dwarf

NASA Hubble Telescope Data Reveals Potential Second-Generation Planet Around White Dwarf

Astronomers utilizing data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered compelling chemical evidence suggesting the presence of a second-generation planet orbiting the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832. This discovery, detailed in a study published in Nature Astronomy, stems from a re-examination of archival Hubble data from 1999, which initially contained approximately 100 unidentified chemical features. Lead author Jamie Williams, a doctoral candidate at the University of Warwick, revisited these records with an updated chemical database and identified an unusually high abundance of niobium. Niobium, along with other elements heavier than iron, is not typically formed in the cores of stars but rather in the exotic conditions of dying stars. The research team theorizes that after the star ejected this chemically enriched material, some of it coalesced into a gas giant planet. This finding was corroborated by data from NASA's retired FUSE (Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer) mission, which also showed...
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Mars to Traverse Beehive Star Cluster in October, Offering Unique Celestial Event

Mars to Traverse Beehive Star Cluster in October, Offering Unique Celestial Event

In October, Mars will pass through the Beehive star cluster, also known as Messier 44 or M44, providing a notable astronomical event for stargazers. On October 5, Mars will first appear near a waning crescent moon. Less than a week later, from October 10 to October 12, Mars will move through the Beehive cluster. Specifically, it will be near the western edge on October 10, almost in the middle on October 11, and at the eastern edge on October 12. The Beehive cluster is one of the brightest open star clusters, located in the constellation Cancer the Crab. This cluster, visible with binoculars or a small telescope, contains about 100 stars and has been known by various names, including Praesepe, meaning 'the Manger,' for over 20 centuries. Galileo Galilei first resolved it into individual stars in 1610. The 'Beehive' moniker emerged later, inspired by the appearance of numerous stars resembling a swarm of bees through early telescopes. Mars, currently 152 million miles from Earth, has been gradually brighten...