Moon Occults Pleiades on Oct. 27, Covering Stars Near 9:30 p.m. ET

Q: Why could October’s dim Draconids and fading Milky Way core be more rewarding this year than brighter sky events?

They could be more rewarding because this year both depend on something skywatchers rarely get at the right time: darkness. The Draconids are usually a faint, modest shower, often only about 5 to 10 meteors an hour, and they are easily washed out by moonlight or city glow. In 2026, however, the peak on Oct. 8-9 comes under an almost moonless sky, with a thin waning crescent and a new moon arriving Oct. 10. That means even faint Draconid streaks stand out better than they often do. The shower is also best seen in the evening, after nightfall, when Draco is high, making it easier for casual observers than predawn events. The Milky Way’s core is rewarding for a different reason: October is effectively last call from the U.S. Before winter, the galactic center drops into the sun’s glare and disappears from the night sky until spring. Around the Oct. 10 new moon, observers get one of the final dark windows to see or photograph it. The view is brief and low in the southwest, but that rarity can make it more meaningful than brighter, more routine targets. By contrast, brighter events such as the Hunter’s Moon or Saturn at opposition are easier and more forgiving, but they are also less dependent on perfect timing and dark conditions. This year’s Draconids and Milky Way core offer a better payoff for people willing to seek truly dark skies, clear horizons, and narrow viewing windows.

1 articles · Updated · National Geographic · Sep 24

Oct. 27 brings a lunar occultation of the Pleiades, with the moon passing through the star cluster from about 6 p.m. ET to just before midnight and the closest approach around 9:30 p.m.
North America gets one of the best views: the East Coast can see the full occultation, while much of the rest of the continent will at least see the moon skim closely past the cluster.
The event caps a busy October sky calendar that also includes Saturn at opposition on Oct. 4, the Draconids on Oct. 8-9 and the Orionids on Oct. 21-22.
October’s other notable sights include the hunter’s moon on Oct. 26, Mercury at greatest eastern elongation on Oct. 12 and a moon-Mars pairing before dawn on Oct. 5.

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National Geographic8d ago

Moon to Occult Pleiades Star Cluster on October 27

Which October 2026 sky event will actually be easiest to see from your backyard: Saturn at opposition, the Orionids, or the Moon covering the Pleiades?

Why could October’s dim Draconids and fading Milky Way core be more rewarding this year than brighter sky events?

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National Geographic8d ago

Moon to Occult Pleiades Star Cluster on October 27

Moon Occults Pleiades on Oct. 27, Covering Stars Near 9:30 p.m. ET

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