You can start your Friday skywatch with a growing crescent Moon, then leave the later hours for shooting stars. (Moon timetable; Orionids guide)
- Growing crescent: Look toward the southwest around 7 to 9 PM Eastern, after the 6:21 PM sunset. At our mid-Atlantic reference near Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Moon does not set until 10:03 PM. Start earlier for a less obstructed view, rather than waiting for it to drop behind trees or rooftops (sunset timetable; Moon timetable).
- Early Orionids: After midnight Eastern into Saturday, October 17, scan a wide stretch of sky overhead. The Moon is already below the horizon, and Orionid meteors can appear anywhere, not just near Orion. This is a patient search before the October 21 to 22 peak, not a promised busy display (Moon timetable; Orionids guide).
If you choose the late watch, bring warm layers and give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes away from bright lights. Leave the phone screen alone while you settle in; it can spoil your night vision (Orionids guide).
Moon note: Waxing crescent; next rise is 2:02 PM Eastern tomorrow, October 17, at our reference location (Moon timetable).
Enjoy a little time under the sky, and join the free NOOMMED newsletter for your next backyard outing.