Stargazers in the Windy City have a reason to be excited—Chicago will bear witness to back-to-back meteor showers this October.
The Draconid and Orionid meteor showers will light up the Midwestern skies just days apart from one another.
Here’s everything to know about the astronomical events and where to watch.
All about the Draconids
The Draconid meteor shower will be the first of two meteor showers visible in Chicago this month, occurring between Oct. 6–10, and peaking around Oct. 8, according to Space.com.
The Draconids are typically “low-rate” compared to other meteor showers.
The 2026 event, however, will coincide with a nearly new moon, meaning darker skies and a better chance at capturing a glimpse of the falling stars.
The best time to view the Draconids is the evening of October 8 into the early morning hours of October 9.
Introducing the Orionids
Just about two weeks after the Draconids arrive, the Orionid meteor shower will reach its climax.
The Orionids are product of debris left by Halley’s comet, and active now through November 7, according to Space.com.
Despite this extended period of activity, the best time to view the Orionids is during their peak between Oct. 21 and 22. Under clear skies, the Orionids typically fall at a rate of around 20 per hour.
The Orionids will occur in tandem with a bright waxing gibbous moon, which could drown out some of the more distant meteors.
The best time to view the meteors is after midnight and around 2 a.m., when the “radiant” or origin point of the meteor shower will be highest in the sky.
Where to watch
For the best look at both meteor showers, Chicagoans should head to an area of low light pollution.
For those in the city, there’s no better spot than the lakefront.
Bring a blanket and camp out along the lake wall, or head to an observation point like the Adler Planetarium campus for an unobstructed view.
