A full moon in October will obscure Orionid meteor shower
Because the best viewing conditions for meteor showers are dark skies, the full moon will significantly reduce the visibility of the meteor shower — by about 75%, according to American Meteor Society adviser Robert Lunsford.
“During a normal year, we’d certainly be focused on the Orionids,” Lunsford said.
If you prefer an earlier stargazing activity, watching the full moon after sunset will be your best bet.
The visibility of the night sky in the US will vary these days, with clouds and storm systems moving across the states, according to CNN Digital Meteorologist Judson Jones. Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, cloud coverage will impact California, Washington, the Gulf Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. Wednesday night, western storms will move into the northern Rockies and Midwest. Alabama, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas will also see increased cloud coverage.
More showers in the 2021 forecast
- November 4-5: South Taurids
- November 11-12: North Taurids
- November 17: Leonids
- November 19: Beaver Moon
- December 13-14: Geminids
- December 18: Cold Moon
- December 22: Ursids
The Taurid meteor shower is expected to be more promising, Lunsford said. Taurids are known for producing bright fireballs, and this year, the shower peaks in mid-November.
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