Sci-Tech invites the public to a free observational astronomy night at 7:00pm on Friday, October 23, 2026, in Watertown’s Thompson Park.
Featured at this observing session will be the Orionids Meteor Shower, the result of debris left in the wake of Haleys Comet. The comet last past by Earth in 1986, and will be back in 2061. The Orionids Meteor Shower can produce up to 20 meteors an hour, often leaving long glowing trains. The bright Moon will obscure some of them, but we still expect there will others to see.
Meteors are the result of bits of dust and debris heating up because of air friction, and most completely burn up in the upper atmosphere. The Orionids meteors are traveling more than 41 miles per second, and become visible about 60 miles high. Most are no bigger than a tiny grain of sand, but because of the intense heat, glow brightly.
Telescopes will also be set up to show the rings of Planet Saturn, spectacular views of our Moon, and other celestial phenomena.
Sci-Tech staff will be on hand to help viewers observe telescopic images, point out other interesting celestial phenomena, and guide viewers around the sky.
This event will be held in Watertown’s Thompson Park, on West Tower Drive, across from the 10th Mountain Division Monument.
In the event of overcast skies, the astronomy night will be canceled.