The Draconid meteor shower, lighting up the Illinois sky

Although less popular, Illinois’ brilliant night skies are perfect for catching mesmerizing astronomical events all year round, and soon our skies will be illuminated by the Draconid meteor shower from Oct. 6-10, reaching its peak on the evening of Oct. 7 into the early morning of Oct. 8.

The Draconid meteor shower, named after the constellation Draco the Dragon, is an annual meteor shower that appears in the sky during the month of October. The meteor shower is created when Earth passes through the dust debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

To increase your chances of seeing the Draconids, find a good viewing spot with clear skies, away from city lights. Illinois has the perfect viewing spots at various state parks and nature reservation areas. You can find one closest to you here.

To check if the Draconids are visible in your city, visit this link.

Happy gazing!

Notable October Birthdays in Illinois

• October Birthdays

October has just begun, and Halloween will arrive soon enough! Let’s take a moment to celebrate October in Illinois with recognizing multiple notable birthdays of those born in the state during this fall season. The famous, historic or otherwise distinguished figures who can track their birthplaces back to Illinois in October are as follows:

• Ray Kroc: American businessman credited for McDonald’s global expansion, born Oct. 5, 1902 in Oak Park
• Kevin Cronin: Musician and lead vocalist for the rock band REO Speedwagon, born Oct. 6, 1951 in Evanston
• Adlai Stevenson III: Democratic U.S. Senator from 1970 to 1981 and a captain in the United States Marine Corps, born Oct. 10, 1930 in Chicago
• Shawn Ryan: Screenwriter and television producer known for producing television series like “S.W.A.T.” and “The Night Agent,” born Oct. 11, 1966 in Rockford
• Johnny Loftus: American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey and first-ever American Triple Crown winner, born Oct. 13, 1895 in Chicago
• Mark Lenard: Actor, famous for his role as the father of Spock in the “Star Trek” franchise, born Oct. 15, 1924 in Chicago
• Anita O’Day: Jazz singer and self-proclaimed “song stylist,” born Oct. 18, 1919 in Chicago
• Craig Robinson: Actor and comedian known for his role in the hit television series “The Office,” born Oct. 25, 1971 in Chicago
• Hillary Clinton: Former First Lady and Secretary of State, born Oct. 26, 1947 in Park Ridge

Artist of the month: Allison Joseph

• Artist of the month
• Poetry

Allison Joseph is an American poet who was born in London, England and grew up between Toronto, Canada, and the Bronx. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and Indiana University, and now directs the masters of fine arts program in creative writing at Southern Illinois University.

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Top 10 fall foodie spots in Illinois

As the weather gets colder, local farmers are gearing up to embrace the fall season with exciting and tasty treats for Illinois foodies. From sugary apple cider donuts to farm-fresh pumpkins and apples, these popular spots have a variety of seasonal items and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Illinois has countless orchards and family farms to visit year-round. Here are the top 10 must-visit fall foodie destinations near you:

1. Eckert’s County Store & Farms – 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville

• • Country Restaurant, Cider Shed, Mr. E’s Donut and Custard Shop, bakery, deli, concessions

2. Kuipers Family Farm – 1 N. 318 Watson Road, Maple Park

• • Orchard Shop Bakery, Farmhouse Kitchen, Tree Top Tap, Smoke House & Grill, Farmyard Bar, Donut Dugout, Corncession Trailer

3. Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm – 4853 US Highway 52, Minooka

• • Heap’s Home Cookin’

4. Prairie Moon Farm – 1467 State Route 97, Knoxville
5. Mariah’s Mums & More – 16727 Airport Road, Clinton

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