Two comets, 1 meteor shower: October skywatching spectacular
This October, keep an eye on the night sky as two bright comets—SWAN and Lemmon—make their closest approach to Earth right when the Orionid meteor shower peaks.
It's a rare chance to catch both comets and shooting stars in one go.
How to spot the comets
Comet SWAN will show up near Libra in early October, glowing brighter by the 21st as it heads toward the Summer Triangle.
Comet Lemmon will hang out near the Big Dipper around mid-October.
Both might be visible without any gear if your skies are dark enough, but binoculars make things easier—especially if you're in a city.
When and where to see Orionids
The Orionid meteor shower peaks on October 21-22, with up to 20 meteors per hour.
Thanks to a new moon that night, skies will be extra dark—perfect for watching meteors streak from Orion after midnight.