Skywatch

Supermoon, Northern Lights & “Dragon” Meteors: Skywatch Alerts for Oct. 5–6, 2025

The Night Sky Spectacle: October 5–6, 2025 As we head into the first weekend of October 2025, the night sky is bursting with activity. From an extra-bright full Moon to a flurry of meteors – and even lingering auroras and newfound comets – skywatchers across the globe have plenty to look up for. Here’s a detailed rundown of what to expect on the nights of October 5–6, 2025, including where and when to see each phenomenon, expert insights, and viewing tips from NASA, NOAA, and other authorities. A Dazzling Harvest Supermoon Takes Center Stage The Moon will be the undeniable

5 October 2025

Spectacular October 2–3, 2025 Skywatch Alert: Meteor Showers, Planets & Aurora on the Horizon

Meteor Showers: Draconids & Orionids Early October brings the Draconids and Orionids meteor showers. NASA’s skywatching notes explain that the Draconids (debris from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner) will streak through the sky Oct. 6–10 nationalgeographic.com. In a perfect dark sky the Draconids can reach “up to 10 meteors per hour,” but this year a bright full Moon on Oct. 6–7 will drown out most fainter meteors science.nasa.gov. Observers should try to block the Moon (for example, by hiding it behind a tree or building) if possible. After the Draconids, the Orionid meteor shower ramps up. Space.com reports “the Orionid meteor shower has

2 October 2025

Astronomy · Aurora · Meteor Showers · Planets · Skywatching

Skywatch Alert: Meteors, Auroras & ISS Sighting to Light Up Oct 1–2, 2025

Key Facts Meteor Showers & Comets Early October brings two modest meteor showers. The Orionids, active Sept 26–Nov 7, begin in earnest on Oct 2 amsmeteors.org starwalk.space. NASA notes the Orionids arise from “debris trailing behind Halley’s Comet” and typically yield ~10–20 meteors/hr at peak science.nasa.gov. (Peak viewing is mid-Oct, but with the New Moon on Oct 21–22 the sky will be dark.) Meanwhile, the Southern Taurids (active Sept 20–Nov 20) are underway; these slow meteors from Comet 2P/Encke are rich in bright fireballs amsmeteors.org. Note the sky will be fairly bright around Oct 1–2 (Moon ~¾ full in-the-sky.org), so expect

1 October 2025

Astronomy · ISS Sightings · Meteor Showers · Northern Lights · Skywatching

Cosmic Skywatch Alert: Geomagnetic Storms, Shooting Stars & Comets Light Up Late Sep–Early Oct 2025

Space Weather & Aurora Forecast NOAA forecasts a Strong (G3) geomagnetic storm on Sept 30, 2025. According to SWPC, “G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storming is expected through 30/1200 UTC due to CME influences” swpc.noaa.gov. This follows an M6.4-class solar flare on Sept 29 (from active Region 4232), which caused an R2-level radio blackout swpc.noaa.gov. Aurora experts note that such storms can power dazzling Northern Lights. The peak storming late Sept 30 (early Oct 1 UT) means northern skies may glow. “Quiet to active” conditions are forecast after the storm, so Sept 30 is the prime aurora night. (Skywatchers should watch real-time SWPC

30 September 2025

Astronomy · Comets · Meteor Showers · Skywatching · Space Events

Saturn Dazzles, New Comet Rises, and Auroras Loom: Skywatch Alert for Sept 24–25, 2025

Saturn Steals the Show If you step outside on these late-September nights, Saturn immediately grabs your attention. The ringed planet reached opposition (when Earth passed directly between Saturn and the Sun) on September 21, and it remains exceptionally bright and gorgeous in the sky planetary.org. At opposition Saturn is closest to Earth for the year, so it shines at maximum brilliance and is visible all night, rising around sunset and setting near dawn. “Saturn will be at its closest and brightest all year!” as NASA explains science.nasa.gov – truly the best time to enjoy this gas giant. Look for Saturn

24 September 2025

Astronomy · Auroras · Comets · Planets · Skywatching

Skywatch Alert: Auroras, “Smiling” Conjunction & Satellite Trains Dazzle on Sept 18–19, 2025

Key Facts Auroras on the Move: Geomagnetic Storms and Equinox Glows Skywatchers in mid-latitudes, keep your eyes north! This week brings an elevated aurora borealis potential, thanks to both increased solar activity and a seasonal phenomenon. The Sun is near the peak of its 11-year cycle, “with activity at its highest level in 23 years” timesofindia.indiatimes.com. In mid-September, a gigantic “butterfly-shaped” coronal hole in the Sun’s atmosphere unleashed a gale of solar wind, sparking a surprise G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm on Sept. 14 timesofindia.indiatimes.com timesofindia.indiatimes.com. That storm produced auroral displays down to Colorado and Missouri in the U.S., far below

18 September 2025

Aurora Borealis · Planetary Conjunctions · Satellite Events · Skywatching · Space Calendar

Rare Meteor Shower, Auroras & Planetary Spectacles: Skywatch Alert (Sept 17–18, 2025)

Key Facts Below is your full skywatching guide for the nights of September 17–18, 2025, with details on each phenomenon and tips for viewing. Clear skies! Meteor Showers: Slow Shooting Stars of September Chi Cygnids – a Rare 5-Year Meteor Shower: The headline event is the chi Cygnid meteor shower, a newly confirmed minor shower that appears to produce enhanced activity roughly every five years earthsky.org foxweather.com. First noticed after an outburst in 2015, the Chi Cygnids have shown bumps in meteor counts in 2010, 2015, 2020, and now 2025 earthsky.org. NASA/SETI astronomer Peter Jenniskens and colleagues detected increased meteors

17 September 2025

Astronomy · Auroras · Meteor Showers · Skywatching · Space Events

Skywatch Alert: Rare Meteor Shower, Auroras, and Planetary Spectacles on Sept 16–17, 2025

Key Sky Events (Sept 16–17, 2025) – At a Glance 1. Rare Chi Cygnid Meteor Shower Peaks (Sept 14–16) One of the most intriguing sky events this week is the Chi Cygnid meteor shower, an unusual, recently discovered meteor display. First noticed in 2015 by NASA astronomer Peter Jenniskens and colleagues, the Chi Cygnids have shown a pattern of increased activity every 5 years (with upticks observed around 2010, 2015, 2020, and now 2025) earthsky.org earthsky.org. This year’s return was expected to climax around September 13–15, 2025 earthsky.org earthsky.org, and indeed low-light cameras detected a flurry of slow-moving meteors from

16 September 2025

Astronomy · Auroras · Meteor Showers · Night Sky Events · Stargazing

Aurora Alert and Saturn Spectacle: Skywatch Highlights for Sept 14–15, 2025

Key Facts Saturn Shines at Its Brightest Saturn is the star of the show in mid-September’s night sky. The ringed planet is almost at opposition – the point on Sept 21 when Earth lies directly between Saturn and the Sun science.nasa.gov. In practical terms, this means Saturn is currently at its closest and brightest for 2025. It rises in the east around sunset and stays up all night long, outshining most stars around it. Look for a steady, yellowish point of light in the eastern evening sky (in the constellation Aquarius). Unlike twinkling stars, planets shine with a steady light.

14 September 2025

Astronomy · Aurora · Saturn · Sky Events · Stargazing

Skywatch Alert: Rare Meteors, Aurora Glow & Planetary Parade Light Up Sept 13–14, 2025

Meteor Watch: Chi Cygnids & September “Shooting Stars” If you’re scanning for meteors this weekend, temper your expectations – but a rare treat is on the menu. The Chi Cygnid meteor shower is peaking around the night of September 13–14. Unlike prolific showers (e.g. August’s Perseids), the Chi Cygnids are a mystery shower that flares up only every five years, and 2025 is one of those special years earthsky.org. Even at peak, they are subtle: perhaps ~1–2 meteors per hour at best under dark skies earthsky.org. What makes them noteworthy is their character – these meteors are unusually slow-moving, creeping

13 September 2025

Astronomy · Aurora · Meteor Showers · NYSE:NG · Planets · Skywatching

Weekend Skywatch Alert: Blood Moon Eclipse, Auroras & Shooting Stars Collide (Sept 6–7, 2025)

Key Facts Now, let’s dive deeper into what you can see and how to make the most of this exciting weekend in the sky… In-Depth Report Aurora Alert: Geomagnetic Storm Likely If you live in mid to high latitudes, you could be in for a treat this weekend: the Northern (and even Southern) Lights might come out to play. Space weather forecasters at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center have issued a G1 geomagnetic storm watch for September 6–7 due to a high-speed solar wind stream buffeting Earth’s magnetic field earthsky.org. This solar wind surge comes from a “positive polarity” coronal

6 September 2025

Astronomy · Eclipse · Skywatching · Space Events · Stargazing

Aurora Glow Fades, Planets Dazzle and ‘Corn Moon’ Rises: Skywatch Alert for Sept 4–5, 2025

Aurora Afterglow: Northern Lights Recede to Poles One of this week’s big celestial events was an unexpected aurora display that ventured far beyond the polar regions. A long-lasting solar flare on Aug 30 unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth, sparking a geomagnetic storm (Kp 7–8) that hit on Sept 1–2 ts2.tech ts2.tech. The result: vibrant Northern Lights (and Southern Lights in the Southern Hemisphere) danced in the sky on those nights, delighting skywatchers much farther south than usual. Observers reported auroral glows in at least 18 U.S. states – sightings came from states like Oregon, Illinois, and New

4 September 2025

Astronomy · Celestial Events · Night Sky · Planetary Science · Skywatch