Orionid meteor shower to illuminate night sky. When and how to view

The Orionid meteor shower is likely to peak on Friday night, generating up to 25 meteors per hour and being visible until the early hours of Saturday.

The Orion constellation, one of the brightest clusters of stars in the sky, inspired the phenomenon's name. One of the reasons that make this meteor shower especially remarkable for some, according to Jake Foster, a public astronomy officer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, is that each meteor represents a little piece of Halley's Comet.





Meteoroids from Halley's Comet hit the Earth's atmosphere at 148,000 mph, exploding in streaking blasts of light. Since the Earth and Halley's Comet circle the Sun in elliptical orbits, they collide twice a year, creating the Orionids and the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in May.

When should you go to catch the meteor shower?
According to Jake Foster, a Royal Observatory public astronomy officer, the Orionids will peak this year on October 21 between midnight and dawn, with a maximum of 25 shooting stars every hour.

He also mentioned that the shower would come from Orion, the constellation which will appear from the south-eastern horizon just before midnight.

FAQs

Till when are they visible?
Until November 7, the Orionids will be visible in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

How do you see it, and do you need a telescope?
Skygazers should stay as far away from artificial lights as possible and give their eyes some time to acclimate to the darkness. You won't need special equipment to watch the meteor shower, just clear skies, and warm clothing.