Ethereal Oregon, Washington and Coastlines: Halloween Science, Space Station, Meteors

Published 10/22/2026 at 8:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Ocean Shores, Washington) – Soon it will be Halloween around the Pacific Northwest, with places on the Oregon and Washington coast getting especially atmospheric – if not beyond moody into stormy territory. Above: Manzanita - Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

But did you know there's some hard science behind the spooky holiday?

And speaking of science ….. are you looking up right now? The ISS has been spectacular in the early morning hours and the Orionid meteor showers are going now as well. Some of those have been really bright (Oregon Coast Beach Connection has seen a few biggies recently)..

In 2026, Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, though the actual astronomical cross-quarter day occurs on Nov. 7, about a week later, according to astronomy expert Jim Todd at Portland's OMSI. Ancient Celtic traditions viewed cross-quarter days as the true beginning of a new season rather than its midpoint.

Halloween traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a seasonal observance tied to a cross-quarter day, the point midway between an equinox and a solstice.

ISS and a hint of the aurora borealis

"According to ancient Celtic tradition, a cross-quarter day signals a season's true beginning rather than its midpoint," Todd told Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

The annual cycle includes eight seasonal markers: the spring and autumn equinoxes, the summer and winter solstices, and four cross-quarter days. Today, those cross-quarter observances are reflected in traditions associated with Groundhog Day, May Day, Lammas and Halloween.

Halloween has long been linked to folklore surrounding the supernatural. As nights grow longer in late autumn, legends hold that spirits of the dead roam between sunset and midnight on Oct. 31 before returning to their rest on All Saints' Day, Nov. 1.

ISS over Washington (NASA)

The Orionid meteor shower also remains active through Nov. 7, offering skywatchers a chance to spot remnants of Halley's Comet streaking across the night sky. The shower reached its peak on the night of Oct. 21-22 as Earth passed through the densest part of the comet's debris trail.

Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers can typically see 10 to 20 meteors per hour during the Orionid peak. However, viewing conditions this year are expected to be limited by a bright waxing gibbous moon, which may wash out many of the fainter meteors and reduce the overall number visible to the naked eye.

Pacific Northwest Weather | Oregon, Washington, Coastline (see NW from space) |---| Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather |---| Inland Oregon Weather

Also visible with the naked eye, lots of the International Space Station (ISS) over areas like Portland, Seattle, Bandon, Seaside, Ashland, Pendleton or Westport. Some of them are extremely bright (look for magnitude -1.8 or up around -2.0.

Friday, Oct. 23: 3:36 a.m. (mag 2.4), 5:13 a.m. (mag -0.7), 6:50 a.m. (mag -1.8)

Saturday, Oct. 24: 4:25 a.m. (mag 1.3), 6:03 a.m. (mag -1.8)

Sunday, Oct. 25: 5:15 a.m. (mag -0.6), 6:52 a.m. (mag -2.0)

Monday, Oct. 26: 4:27 a.m. (mag 1.4)

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