If you are an avid stargazer, you don’t want to miss this. The annual Orionid meteor shower will peak in the month of October, even though the full moon’s glare will cause a below-average view for this year’s display. Between October 21-22, 15-20 meteors should be visible per hour, according to NASA meteor expert, Bill Cooke.
What is the Orionid meteor shower?
It is a meteor shower associated with the famous Halley’s Comet. The comet whizzes past Earth every 75 years, and as the icy comet revolves around the sun, it leaves a stream of comet crumbs. At certain times of the year, during May and October, the Earth’s orbit around the sun crosses paths with this debris, making it visible from Earth.
The shower,s which can be seen over a large area of the sky, are named Orionids because it is believed they come from the Orion constellation.
Where is it visible?
It is visible from anywhere on Earth and can be seen anywhere across the sky. To be more specific, look for Orion the Hunter and the meteor shower’s point of origin will appear near Orion’s sword, to the north side of his left shoulder. You shouldn’t stare straight at this area though, Cooke told Space.Com, “because meteors close to the radiant have short trails and are harder to see — so you want to look away from Orion.”
Besides the moon’s glare, another hinderance can be light pollution, so it is advised to venture out far away from the city lights and take 20 minutes to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark. Unfortunately, binoculars and telescopes won’t help you see the meteor shower better because they are designed to look at stationery objects and not moving objects.
The best time to see the Orionids is just after midnight and right before dawn.
Watch last year’s Orionid meteor shower:
Picture: Pixabay
