The night sky in October 2026
In October 2026, 2 meteor showers peak, and the darkest skies fall around the New Moon on the 10th.
Moon phases
The Moon sets the rhythm of the month — the New Moon brings the darkest skies for faint objects, the Full Moon the brightest nights. Dates are in UTC and may shift a day in your time zone.
Last QuarterOct 3
New MoonOct 10
First QuarterOct 18
Full MoonOct 26
Meteor showers
Peaks are approximate and shift a day year to year. Watch from the darkest site you can reach, after midnight, with no Moon in the sky. See our meteor-shower guide for the technique.
- Draconids — peaks around Oct 8, up to ~10/hr. Slow meteors, best in the evening; occasional outbursts.
- Orionids — peaks around Oct 21, up to ~20/hr. Swift meteors, also from Halley's Comet.
Turn this month into a plan for your sky — Stella has the exact times, weather, and dark sites.
Download on theApp Store