The biggest meteor shower of October is here—here’s the best time to watch

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department, compiled and reported

The biggest meteor shower of October is here！ October 21st marks the peak of the Orionids meteor shower. Under conditions of no light pollution and clear weather, an estimated 20 meteors can be seen per hour. In addition to the meteor shower, this is also the best time recently to observe Uranus. According to the Central Weather Bureau, the northern and northeastern regions on the windward side will experience cloudy and rainy weather over the weekend, making it less suitable for stargazing. Meanwhile, the central and southern parts of Taiwan will have mostly cloudy to clear skies, while Hualien and Taitung will be partly cloudy—providing better viewing conditions.

The Orionids is a medium-sized meteor shower that occurs annually, typically active between October 2nd and November 7th. This year, its peak falls on October 21st, which not only lands on a Saturday but also coincides with the new moon phase of the second day of the lunar calendar, resulting in minimal moonlight interference and ideal viewing conditions.

Orion rises in the east around 22:00 to 23:00 at night. The period from after 22:00 on October 20th to before dawn on October 22nd is suitable for viewing. The peak of the Orionids generally lasts several days, and the shower can be observed over the half-month period from mid-October to the end of the month.

Uranus reaches opposition on October 20th, meaning that with Earth at the center, the Sun and Uranus are positioned on opposite sides of our planet. At this time, it is almost at its closest to Earth for the year, appearing at its brightest and largest in angular diameter, and is visible all night.