A stretch of late-year meteor shower begins this month as the Draconids sparkle in the sky between Oct. 6 and 10, peaking on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The Draconids are a minor shower, with about 10 meteors an hour, but they are more convenient to see than some, as they occur just after sunset. Fog permitting, look near the Little Dipper for the constellation of Draco, the Dragon, and accompanying falling stars in the northern sky.
The celestial calendar brings another “super” full moon on Oct. 17, with the moon at perigee—its closest location to Earth.
This time of year, I am often startled by large thuds as buckeye seeds drop onto the roof. The shiny brown nut of this native tree is enclosed by a greenish husk that splits open—and the seed drops. Adapted to our dry California climate, the nut sprouts, sending out a root. This root lives off water and nutrition in the nut, with the hope of future rain (and not a drought year). Coast live oak trees are laden with acorns, their smooth caps holding a long, narrow nut. Many species rely upon this tree, and deer, quail and woodpeckers all look forward to the upcoming feast.
Seashore visitor centers, the lighthouse, and roads and trails are open on the Monday, Oct. 14 Indigenous People’s Day holiday.