It’s time for the Orionid meteor shower!
The brilliance and swiftness of the meteors during the occurrence are well-known. It’s one of the year’s most stunning meteor showers, according to NASA. The meteor shower is anticipated to generate about 20 visible meteors per hour at its peak and under optimum circumstances.
What is the origin of the Orionid meteors?
Because the meteors seem to emanate from the Orion constellation in the sky, the meteor shower bears that name. Its meteors can actually be seen streaking across the night sky.
Comet 1P/Halley, also known as Halley’s Comet, is the actual source of the meteors. Halley’s dust trail disintegrates as it travels through Earth’s atmosphere, and presto! There is a meteor.
Halley’s Comet and Earth perform this identical song and dance every October to generate the Orionids. As a result, the Orionid meteor shower functions as a sort of treat to keep Earthlings occupied in between complete views of Halley’s comet, which only occur around every 76 years. (Fun fact: The shower is known as the Eta Aquarids when this similar series of occurrences takes place in May.)
Around 66 kilometers (41 miles) per second is how swiftly the Orionids are known to move through the sky. As a result, they can leave shimmering trains that may endure for a few seconds or up to a few minutes.
How to watch the Orionids and when to do so
The Orionids will be at their brightest this weekend in the early hours of October 20 and October 21. To have the best view, you can either stay up late on Friday or get up early on Saturday.
Speaking of optimizing, NASA advises choosing an observation place away from city or street lights, if at all possible, and giving your eyes around 30 minutes to get used to the darkness. This will increase your chances of getting a good view. Then, if you are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, they advise sitting or lying down with your feet facing southeast or northeast, respectively. Finally, NASA advises turning your head 45 to 90 degrees away from the constellation of Orion. The meteors will appear shorter and less impressive when viewed straight as they appear to leave Orion.