Don't miss: the main astronomical events of October
Svetlana Moshkina, a specialist at the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, shared which events are worth noting and the best times for skywatching.
Two meteor showers in one month
Among the most interesting astronomical events this October are the Draconid and Orionid meteor showers, with peaks expected on October 8–9 and October 21–22, respectively.
Draconids — October 8 and 9
The peak of the Draconid meteor shower is expected on the night of October 8-9. According to the expert, the shower can be observed from October 6 to 10, but the highest activity will occur specifically on the night of October 8 into October 9.
"The radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Draco. Typically, up to five meteors per hour are observed, though activity can occasionally intensify for short periods. The shower is associated with comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner (meaning the source of the meteor shower is the debris left by this comet in space - Ed.)," the specialist explained.
She noted that conditions for observing the Draconids will be favorable this year, as moonlight will not interfere with the view.
"The observation window is from the evening of October 8 until dawn on October 9. Draconid meteors are famous for their slow speeds and long, glowing trails," Svetlana Moshkina added.
Orionids — October 21 and 22
The peak of the Orionid meteor shower is expected on the night of October 21-22. Its period of activity will last from October 2 to November 7.
"The radiant is located in the constellation Orion, with activity reaching up to 20 meteors per hour. The observation period runs from October 2 to November 7. This meteor shower is associated with Halley's Comet (1P/Halley)," noted Svetlana Moshkina.
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According to the specialist, the waxing moon may slightly interfere with observations during the shower's active period. Therefore, the best time to watch the Orionids is before dawn.
"The activity of the meteor shower spans several nights, and in some years, multiple bursts of activity have even been observed," she shared.
Other astronomical events in October
In addition to the meteor showers, residents of Kazakhstan will be able to observe several lunar conjunctions with planets, the opposition of Saturn and the asteroid Vesta, and various lunar phases in October.
October 1 — The Moon passes near Uranus;
October 3 — Last Quarter Moon, 18:25 Astana time;
October 4 — Saturn at opposition: minimum distance of 8.43 AU, apparent diameter of 19.7 arcseconds, magnitude 0.3, in the constellation Cetus. This means that during opposition, Saturn will be clearly visible in the night sky. The planet will be in the constellation Cetus, with a brightness of magnitude 0.3 and an apparent diameter of 19.7 arcseconds;
October 5 — The Moon passes within 1 degree of Mars; a lunar occultation of Mars will be visible in Chukotka;
Note: According to the specialist, the Moon will pass approximately 1 degree from Mars. Meanwhile, a lunar occultation of Mars—when the Moon temporarily hides the planet from view—will be visible in Chukotka.
October 6 — The Moon passes very close to Jupiter; a lunar occultation of Jupiter will be visible in parts of Africa and North and South America;
October 10 — New Moon, 20:50 Astana time;
October 12 — Mercury at greatest evening elongation (25 degrees); the Moon passes near Mercury and Venus. Simply put, Mercury will reach its maximum evening distance from the Sun at 25 degrees. At this time, the Moon will pass close to both Mercury and Venus.;
October 13 — Asteroid Vesta at opposition — its brightness will reach magnitude 6.3, and the asteroid will be located in the constellation Cetus;
October 18 — First Quarter Moon, 21:12 Astana time;
October 23 — The Moon passes near Neptune;
October 24 — The Moon passes near Saturn;
October 26 — Full Moon, 09:11 Astana time;
October 28 — The Moon is located near Uranus.
October is also notable for World Space Week, which takes place from October 4 to October 10.
As explained by the AFIF, the United Nations General Assembly established this holiday in 1999 to highlight the benefits of space science for humanity. provide a reminder of how space science benefits humanity. The dates were chosen deliberately: October 4, 1957, marked the USSR's launch of the first artificial Earth satellite, while October 10, 1967, saw the entry into force of the international Outer Space Treaty.
How to watch a meteor shower: Tips from an astrophotographer
Baglan, a photographer from Almaty, already captured the Perseid meteor shower in August.
According to him, a telescope or special equipment is not necessary. The main thing is to choose a location far from the city, away from bright artificial light.
"Don't just look at the sky for five minutes and leave. Meteors are unpredictable, so it's better to let the camera run for several hours. The more frames you take, the higher the chance of catching a truly beautiful stream," the photographer noted.
If you want to take photos, Baglan recommended using a camera with a wide-angle lens mounted on a stable tripod. Before shooting, he said, you need to focus on the stars and let the camera run for several hours.
For night sky watching, he also suggested bringing warm clothes, a blanket, tea, and snacks.
However, he advised avoiding popular spots like the Assy Plateau during meteor showers; such locations attract large crowds and cars, where headlights, flashlights, and campfires create light pollution that interferes with viewing the stars and meteors.
Additionally, Baglan advised checking the weather and being wary of guides promising a "guaranteed meteor shower"—especially in the mountains, where weather conditions can change rapidly.