Two meteor showers take the stage for the month of October. The Draconids come first with a peak on October 7th and the 8th. Most of the time, the Draconid meteor shower does not put on a dramatic display, about 10-15 meteors per hour. However, there are recorded event where meteor outbursts have occurred with the Draconid meteor shower with meteor rates reaching into the thousands per hour!
This year's Draconid meteor shower will be marred by the light of a waxing gibbous moon which will be around for most of the night.
Next up on the slate for October meteor shower are the Orionids. The Orionid meteor showers peak on October 20th and 21st. The Orionids are generally more active than the Draconid meteor shower. The Orionids are caused by the remnants of Halley's Comet, and streak in at a rate of about 15 to 20 meteors per hour. The best viewing times will be in the evening, before moon rises. The Orionid meteor showers generally provide best viewing after midnight, towards the morning hour. But for the 2011 meteor shower event, the moon will be up after midnight.
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