Photo Credit: Richard Klofac

If you’re in Newport or Southern New England later this week, there is a fair chance to see some “shooting stars” with the annual Draconid meteor shower.

The meteor display, which peaks overnight on Thursday, October 8th and Friday, October 9th is caused by the remains of a comet raining down on Earth.

On average, about 10 to 20 meteors per hour will be visible during the Draconids.

The best thing you can do to maximize the number of shooting stars you’ll see is to get as far away from urban light pollution as possible. Think about heading to Brenton Point, Sachuset Point or a location with a clear, unclouded view of the night sky. Get away from any and all light pollution!

Once you get to your viewing location, search for the darkest patch of sky you can find, as meteors can appear anywhere overhead, enjoy!

There are meteor showers galore this month. On the 9th: the faint, slow-moving Draconids. On the 10th: the slow, super-bright Taurids. And on the 21st: the swift and bright Orionids from the dust of Comet Halley.


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Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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