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October sky: Saturn, meteors and more to watch from B'desh
Published : Wednesday, 30 September, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Observer online report
October will bring several notable celestial events for skywatchers in Bangladesh, with Saturn at opposition and two meteor showers offering opportunities to observe the night sky.
Saturn takes centre stage
Saturn will be one of the month's main attractions, reaching opposition on October 4, according to NASA's 2026 astronomical calendar. At opposition, Saturn is positioned opposite the Sun from Earth's perspective, making it particularly well placed for observation.
The planet will remain visible for much of the night around the opposition. From Dhaka, Saturn is currently visible from the early evening into the morning, according to Timeanddate.
For observers across Bangladesh, an open location with a clear view of the sky will offer better conditions for viewing the ringed planet.
Two meteor showers to watch
October will bring two meteor showers that can be observed from Bangladesh — the Draconids and the Orionids.
The Draconid meteor shower is expected to peak on October 7. Unlike many major meteor showers, the Draconids are best viewed during the evening. Their activity can vary considerably from year to year, so the number of visible meteors may be limited.
The Orionids will provide another opportunity later in the month. NASA says the shower will be active from October 2 to November 7, with its peak on October 21-22.
Under dark skies, observers can see about 10 to 20 meteors per hour during the Orionid peak. The meteors are produced by debris left behind by Halley's Comet and enter Earth's atmosphere at about 66 kilometres per second.
The Orionids are visible from both hemispheres and are best observed after midnight. NASA recommends finding a location away from city and street lights, lying back and looking across as much of the sky as possible. The eyes can take around 30 minutes to adapt fully to darkness.
For Bangladesh's urban skywatchers, this makes rural areas, open fields or other locations away from strong artificial light more suitable for meteor watching.
Moon phases will affect visibility
The Moon will also influence October's skywatching conditions.
Timeanddate data for Dhaka show the Moon reaching its third-quarter phase on October 3 and the New Moon on October 10. The reduced moonlight around the New Moon will provide darker skies, potentially making faint stars and meteors easier to see.
The Moon will then grow brighter through the second half of the month before reaching its full phase on October 26. In Dhaka, the full Moon will occur at 10:11 AM local time that day.
What else can be seen?
Saturn will remain a prominent target during October, while other planets will also be visible at different times of the night and early morning.
For casual observers, no specialised equipment is needed to enjoy many of October's events. A clear sky, an unobstructed view and a location away from artificial light can make a significant difference.
With Saturn at opposition early in the month and two meteor showers later on, October offers Bangladeshi skywatchers several opportunities to look beyond the city lights and explore the night sky.
Sources: NASA; Timeanddate.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
