Mark your calendars, skygazers all across the world, for “shooting stars” originating from the renowned Halley’s Comet will be seen this weekend (October 20-October 21). They will appear to come from the Orion constellation, close above the famed Orion Belt of three bright stars, hence the name Orionid meteor shower.
Halley’s Comet is the most well-known short-period comet and the only one visible twice in a human lifetime. The Orionids are caused by the dust and debris left behind by Halley’s Comet in the inner solar system.
What exactly are Orionids?
“Shooting stars” are caused by comet dust and debris, which emit energy when they collide with the Earth’s atmosphere. The forthcoming Orionid meteor shower is one of two yearly meteor showers created by Halley’s comet, the other being the Eta Aquariids, which were observed in April of this year.
Halley’s comet was last observed in the inner solar system in 1986. Halley’s Comet, a gigantic snowball of ice, rock, and dust, approaches the inner solar system every 75 years, where it melts and leaves debris. Meteor showers occur when debris enters Earth’s orbit around the sun. After reaching its midway point in December of this year and beginning its journey back toward the inner solar system, the huge comet will return in 2061.
The Orionids are already active, having begun on September 26 and expected to last until November 22, with the main peak occurring on Friday and Saturday, October 20 and 21.
Where can I watch the Orionids?
As the Orionids reach their zenith this weekend, expect to see 10-20 “shooting stars” per hour. According to the American Meteor Society, this peak will occur in North America at midnight EDT.
However, the peak of the meteor shower should be seen after nightfall – in this case, from Friday, Oct 20 to Saturday, Oct 21. Other factors to consider are the weather and moon phase.
Even though clear skies are required to see anything notable, sky conditions are favorable for this year’s Orionids, particularly if you’re ready to stay up late. This is due to the presence of a first-quarter moon, which will set around midnight and is bright enough to bleach the night sky, making it difficult to view the “shooting stars.”
As a result, the early hours of Saturday, October 21, will most likely be the finest opportunity to observe the Orionids.
What to look for?
The best approach to the Orionids is to think of it as a stargazing session. So, brace yourselves for the spectacular Orionid meteor shower, which will ascend high into the southeastern sky after midnight.