You have another chance to catch a Draconid shooting star tonight, with no bright Moon competing for your attention. (Draconids guide)
- Draconid meteors: Try an evening watch after dark. Draco, the constellation they appear to come from, sits high in the northern sky, but streaks can appear anywhere overhead. You can watch without special equipment, though spotting one takes patience. The shower remains active through October 10 (Draconids guide).
- A Moon-free view: At our mid-Atlantic reference near Allentown, sunset is 6:31 PM Eastern. The Moon sets earlier, at 5:50 PM, so you can enjoy an evening without lunar glare in any direction (sunset timetable; Moon timetable).
Keep expectations gentle: the predicted Draconid peak falls at 9 PM Eastern on October 8, not tonight. No surge is expected this year, so treat any meteor as a welcome extra (Draconids guide).
Bonus: Southern Taurids approach their October 10 maximum, adding another active shower to your watch (Royal Observatory).
Moon note: Waning crescent; next rise is 7:08 AM Eastern tomorrow, October 10, at our reference location. New Moon follows at 11:50 AM Eastern (Moon timetable; phase calendar).
Enjoy a little time under the sky, and join the free NOOMMED newsletter for your next backyard outing.