The last celestial spectacle we had the honour of catching was the Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower back in July. Fast forward 3 months, and Mother Nature is giving us another reason to look up at the night sky.
This October 2026, Saturn will be at opposition, making the planet especially prominent in the night sky, while the Draconids Meteor Shower will also be putting on a show. And yes, both can be spotted from Singapore – here’s when and where to look up if you want to catch the 2nd-largest planet in our Solar System and these so-called “shooting stars”.
Image credit: NASA Science
According to the Science Centre Observatory, opposition happens when Earth passes between the Sun and a planet farther out in the Solar System, putting the planet and the Sun on opposite sides of Earth.
In simpler terms, as the Sun sets in the west, Saturn rises in the east, allowing it to stay visible in the night sky. It’ll also be closer to Earth and brighter than usual, making this a particularly good time to spot it.
This year’s Saturn opposition falls on 4th October 2026, and will be visible throughout the night. It’ll reach its highest point in the sky at around midnight, and that’s good news, as you won’t have to stay up until the wee hours to get a good look.
BTW, the next Saturn opposition won’t happen until 18th October 2027, so don’t miss this chance!
Image credit: NASA Science
It’s an annual meteor shower that lights up the sky every October and happens when Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
As the comet gets closer to the Sun, it heats up and sheds dust and tiny fragments along its path. When Earth passes through this debris, the particles enter our atmosphere at super high speeds and burn up, creating the bright streaks of light we know as “shooting stars”.
The Science Centre Observatory stated that it’s possible to spot up to 10 meteors per hour. But before you get too excited, keep in mind that Singapore’s light pollution, frequent cloud cover, and even recent haze can make them trickier to catch.
Image credit: NASA
Still, keep your hopes up and look up after 8pm on 8th October 2026, when the Draconids Meteor Shower is expected to peak overnight from 8th to 9th October.
Don’t fret if you miss it this time; the next meteor shower visible from Singapore will be the Orionids Meteor Shower, which will peak around 21st October 2026, so you’ll have another chance to catch some shooting stars soon.
Image credit: Sandy Archer A. Baker via Google Maps
The Science Centre Observatory recommends spots such as East Coast Park, Changi Beach Park, West Coast Park, Marina Barrage, and the Southern Ridges. You can spot them with the naked eye, so there’s no need to lug a telescope around. Just find a relatively dark spot and give your eyes some time to adjust.
Pro tip: Try to avoid staring at your phone or other bright screens before and during your planet-spotting or stargazing session.
Bring along some snacks and spend the evening spotting Saturn and shooting stars together with your partner. And if this is your first date, well, if things go well, you can always say you started things off under the stars.
More date ideas in SG:
Cover image adapted from: NASA Science
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