From a supermoon to a pair of meteor showers streaking across the night sky, here are the top astronomy events for the month of October.

October 2025 is set to be an exciting month for astronomy enthusiasts, with a Super Harvest Moon and two meteor showers on the calendar. The Super Harvest Moon, appearing larger and brighter than usual, will be the first major event, coinciding with the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.

Following the moon, the Draconid Meteor Shower will peak, offering up to 10 meteors per hour and is best viewed before midnight. Later in the month, the Orionid Meteor Shower will provide a more prominent display, with around 20 meteors per hour and optimal viewing conditions due to the absence of moonlight.

Top astronomy events for October 2025

The Super Harvest Moon and two different meteor showers are the astronomy events to mark on your calendar for October. The Super Harvest Moon is up first, on the night of October 6th. This isn't just any full moon though, it's a supermoon, appearing larger and brighter than usual. Plus, it's the Harvest Moon, which is the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox, which was back on September 22nd. Next up, the Draconid Meteor Shower. That peaks on October 8th and 9th. And though it's a minor shower, with up to 10 meteors per hour, you might still spot some bright streaks in the evening sky. And the best part? You don't have to stay up late. The Draconids are best viewed before midnight. Then, save the date for October 22nd and 23rd for the Orionid Meteor Shower. This one is a must-see, with around 20 shooting stars per hour and no moonlight to watch them out. It's named after the constellation Orion, and these meteors will light up the sky, especially after midnight when Orion rises higher.

UN sanctions are set to be reimposed on Iran on Saturday - after a failed bid by Russia and China to delay them. Only four countries voted in favour of the draft resolution.

New York

Middle East Conflict

UN set to reimpose sanctions on Iran on Saturday

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more files turned over by the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Washington County

House Democrats release more Epstein files

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wore a QR code at the U.N. General Assembly linking to images of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack as Western nations move to recognize Palestine. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest.

Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu speaks at U.N.

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential run.

Paris

Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison

The U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday (September 25), in a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump's retribution campaign against his political enemies.

Washington

Former FBI chief James Comey charged

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new tariffs set to take effect next Wednesday, including a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical drugs. There will also be tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, such as kitchen cabinets, some furniture and trucks.

Global Tariffs

U.S. to impose new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, some furniture, trucks

US President Donald Trump has hosted his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House. The two leaders discussed Türkiye's long-disputed F-35 fighter jets, trade and energy ties as well as regional matters.

Istanbul

Trump hosts Erdogan as U.S. considers lifting ban on F-35 sales

Danish officials say a series of drone incursions they’re calling hybrid attacks at airports were carried out by ‘professional actors,’ and some analysts are pointing to Russia as a culprit. Russia has denied involvement.

Copenhagen

Russia denies involvement in drone flyovers at Danish airports

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of senior military officials to Virginia for an urgent gathering. The pentagon has provided very little details about the purpose of this meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth calls rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officers

Spain and Italy have sent naval vessels into the eastern Mediterranean to escort a flotilla of activists trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It’s a move that could set up tensions at sea and comes after the convoy says it was attacked by drones.

Madrid

Spain, Italy send navies to escort Gaza aid flotilla

Federal agents in Washington state have seized more than 50,000 counterfeit pills laced with carfentanil, a drug said to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Centralia

Feds seize 50,000 pills laced with drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly virtually after the U.S. revoked visas for him and members of his delegation. CBS News' Olivia Gazis reports.

Mahmoud Abbas promises no Hamas in post-war Gaza government

The widow of one of the 60 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet involved in the deadly midair collision near D.C. in January has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army.

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China led several countries in announcing new climate plans on Wednesday and offered a veiled rebuke of the U.S. president's anti-climate rhetoric a day earlier at the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The meeting came a day after President Trump appeared to soften his language on the Ukraine war, raising questions about U.S. policy direction.

Manhattan

Ukraine Invasion

Rubio meets Russia's Lavrov after Trump shifts tone on Ukraine war

The family of one of the 67 people killed earlier this year when an American Airlines plane and a  U.S. Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the government and the airline.

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The new Paramount+ documentary "Bodyguard of Lies" highlights the efforts across four presidential administrations to conceal the challenges the U.S. faced during the Afghanistan

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In his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia wants to expand the war beyond Ukraine.

Putin wants to expand war beyond Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns U.N.

The Trump administration is rehiring hundreds of federal employees who were laid off during cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi has more details.

Trump administration rehires hundreds laid off during DOGE cuts

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison if a Paris court convicts him of secretly using funds from the Libyan government of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi to finance his presidential campaign in 2007.

Ex-French President Sarkozy awaits verdict in trial

An international aid flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday (September 24) it was attacked overnight by drones in international waters off Greece, prompting Italy to send a navy ship to come to its assistance.

Italy sends navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla after drone attack

At least three people were shot at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Wednesday morning, officials said. One victim was killed, while two others are injured. The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dallas

Three people shot at ICE facility in Dallas, officials say

The U.S. has long argued China should give up the developing-country status because it is the world’s second-largest economy.

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U.S. President Donald Trump reversed his stance on the Ukraine war after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, now expressing confidence that Ukraine can reclaim all its territory.

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After a six-day suspension, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears during his return to TV with a monologue focused on the importance of the maintaining the right to free speech while still poking fun at the Trump administration.

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel makes emotional return with monologue about free speech

Typhoon Ragasa, the world's most powerful tropical cyclone this year, struck the southern Chinese city of Yangjiang on Wednesday after lashing Taiwan and Hong Kong with ferocious winds and heavy rains.

Yangjiang

Typhoon Ragasa lashes Hong Kong, Taiwan, southern China

Mainland China is bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa, after the powerful storm caused widespread destruction across the region. In Taiwan, at least 14 people have died in flooding triggered by the cyclone.

Kowloon

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A jury has convicted Ryan Routh of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump on his Florida golf course last year. He was found guilty of all five charges, which included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.

West Palm Beach

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 23) spoke with reporters while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Breakdown