Aurigid meteor shower: How to watch September’s subtle celestial display

September begins with the little-known Aurigid meteor shower, a subtle celestial event that may still surprise skywatchers with beautiful flashes.

NASA says the Aurigids originate from Comet Kiess, discovered in 1935 by American astronomer Carl Clarence Kiess. The comet is named C/1911 N1 Kiess in recognition of that discovery.

Some experts classify the shower as weak because it produces relatively few meteors each hour. Its viewing window runs from August 31 through September 5, with the best visibility in the Northern Hemisphere before dawn.

Observers should choose a rural or otherwise dark location away from light pollution. A tree or building can help block moonlight while leaving much of the sky visible. This year’s shower could produce up to six meteors per hour, although clouds, rain and the Moon’s brightness may reduce the number seen.

For photographs, experts recommend disabling automatic focus and exposure on phones and cameras. Settings should be adjusted manually according to the moonlight and surrounding lights. A telescope may also help observers obtain a clearer view of the night sky.