There’s something magical about waking up the kids in the middle of the night for a reason that has nothing to do with school, chores, or schedules. Tonight is one of those nights.

The house is quiet. Everyone is asleep. Outside, the stars stretch across the October sky, waiting. I gently nudge the kids awake, bundled blankets in hand, and whisper, “Come on. You need to see this.”

At first, there are sleepy groans and tired eyes, but once we step outside into the cool darkness, everything changes. Above us, the Orionid Meteor Shower is putting on its annual performance. Streaks of light race across the sky, bright and fast, leaving glowing trails behind them. Every few minutes, another meteor flashes overhead, drawing excited gasps and pointing fingers toward the heavens.

These meteors are pieces of history. They are tiny bits of debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, one of the most famous comets ever observed. While the comet itself won’t return until July 28, 2061, we get to experience its cosmic fingerprints twice a year, through the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October.

The Orionids, active from October 2 to November 7, reach their peak overnight on October 21 and 22. Considered one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, they can produce 10 to 20 meteors an hour. Some leave glowing trains that linger for seconds, while the fastest can blaze into brilliant fireballs.

It’s not just meteors that have us outside in the middle of the night, we’re out there for the Northern Lights dancing across the sky as well. It’s an experience that you need to go out of your way for. The kids stand in silence, their faces lit up by nature’s greatest light show. No screens. No distractions. Just wonder.

In that moment, I’m reminded that experiences like this are gifts. The stars, meteors, and auroras don’t ask for tickets or reservations. They simply invite us to look up.

Maybe that’s why nights like this matter so much. Years from now, the kids might not remember what they had for dinner or what was on television. But they’ll remember being woken up in the middle of the night to watch pieces of Halley’s Comet streak across the sky or the Northern Lights dancing overhead.

And honestly, these are experiences we should have far more often.