Four meteor showers to watch in the coming weeks across Michigan

Four meteor showers, the Draconids, Orionids, and North and South Taurids, will light up the skies in October and November
Meteors are bits of comets and asteroids that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, creating bright streaks and sometimes fireballs
The best viewing is from dark, rural locations away from city lights

The night sky is about to get crowded, with four meteor showers set to light up October evenings.

What is a meteor shower?

Meteors originate from fragments of comets and pieces of asteroids. As comets orbit the sun, they release dust that slowly forms a trail along their path. Each year, Earth moves through these trails, and the debris collides with our atmosphere, burning up and producing bright, colorful streaks across the sky.

Draconids meteor shower

The Draconids typically run from October 6 to October 10, with their peak around October 8, according to Space.com. Unfortunately, skywatchers may struggle due to a full moon around October 6–7, which brightens the sky and can drown out the faint meteors.

The best viewing time is in the evening after nightfall, when the constellation Draco (the radiant) is high in the sky.

Orionids meteor shower

The Orionids is considered one of the best meteor showers because of its brightness and speed, according to NASA. The meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 41 miles per second, creating glowing trails of debris that linger for seconds or even minutes. Sometimes they burst into fireballs with extended flashes of light.

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The Orionids can be seen from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres after midnight and are expected to peak on Oct. 21.

Taurids meteor showers

The North and South Taurids are sister showers whose meteors can be slow-moving and very bright. They produce about five meteors per hour and 10 total when they overlap. Sometimes even producing fireballs.

The North Taurids are active from Oct.13 to Dec. 2 and are expected to peak around Nov. 9. The South Taurids have been active since Sept. 23 and will peak on Nov. 5 before ending on Nov. 12

Best place to see a meteor shower

The best place to view meteor showers is away from the city, far from the light pollution that can make them harder to see. Anywhere near the countryside where it becomes very dark at night is ideal.