Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    October astronomy outlook: Two eclipses and two meteor showers!

15:00
1 October 2023

October astronomy outlook
Two eclipses and two meteor showers!

star-gazing

October brings a feast of astronomical events for stargazers, including two meteor showers and two eclipses... although these won't be too visible for those in the UK and Ireland.

The month is kicked off with the arrival of the Draconids meteor shower. Active from around October 6, and peaking the night of October 8. This is one of the slower showers of the year but is best seen in the early evening looking towards the Draco constellation.

On October 14 a new moon brings us an annular solar eclipse. This sees the moon entering the sun's path, but being too far away from Earth to completely block the light. Resulting in a halo appearing around the sun.

Sadly this will not be visible in the UK, Ireland, or Europe, but a new moon always brings darker skies ideal for spotting constellations, and possibly a few early Orionids.

Travelling during the eclipse?

The annular solar eclipse will be visible firstly off the coast of southern Canada before moving over southwestern America into Central America, reaching Columbia and Brazil before ending.

The second meteor shower of the month is also technically the first. Active from October 2, the Orionids reach their peak on the night of October 21, best seen between midnight and dawn. These meteors are parts of Halley's Comet, the comet itself will not return until 2061.

This shower originates from the Orion the Hunter constellation and runs until November 7.

October ends with the arrival of the Hunter's Moon on the 28th. Like all full moons, its name originates from Native American tribes. This year, the full moon also brings us a partial lunar eclipse.

The eclipse will be visible across Europe. Much of Asia and Africa will also see the event, while western regions of Australia and eastern parts of the US and southern America will see the eclipse as the moon rises.

If you're heading out for a night under the stars, don't forget your camera! We want to see your pictures! Use our uploader to submit, you don't need fancy equipment, even a smartphone can capture great shots.

Tips: Astrophotography with your phoneread more
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Severe thunderstorms in northern Italy. Hail and storm damage. . . Wednesday 3 June 2026
A split-screen image showing fallen trees on a road and a weather radar map of northern Italy. Numerous thunderstorm cells are active between Turin, Milan and Bologna.
Wednesday 3 June 2026

Hail and storm damage

Severe thunderstorms in northern Italy
Unseasonably windy start to summer. Autumn-like gusts. . . Wednesday 3 June 2026
Wind forecast map of the UK and Ireland showing a low-pressure system west of Ireland, widespread orange wind zones, airflow streamlines, and gusts reaching 45 mph in parts of Ireland and southern Britain.
Wednesday 3 June 2026

Autumn-like gusts

Unseasonably windy start to summer
Jet stream brings a change. Open for Atlantic lows. . . Tuesday 2 June 2026
Map of Europe showing the jet stream highlighted in colour. The band of strong winds stretches from the Atlantic across France and Germany to Northern Europe.
Tuesday 2 June 2026

Open for Atlantic lows

Jet stream brings a change
All weather news
This might also interest you
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Mixed conditions on an unsettled week. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 2 November 2025
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList