As the moon shines brightly in the sky, skygazers have the opportunity to witness the Orionid meteor shower, which is caused by Halley’s Comet. The shower is forecasted to peak in the coming days, sending bright and fast meteors shooting across the night sky at speeds of about 148,000 mph. Spectators are advised to look for the meteors from midnight to dawn for the best chances of viewing. However, the nearly-full bright moon may outshine fainter meteors, but lucky viewers may still see up to 23 meteors per hour blazing across moonless skies.
The Orionid meteor shower is named after the constellation Orion, from which the meteors seem to radiate. Astronomers advise viewers to avoid looking directly at Orion to get the best views. The shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris left by Halley’s Comet, resulting in fiery streaks in the sky known as shooting stars. If the meteoroids survive the trip to Earth without burning up, they become meteorites. Halley’s Comet, which last appeared in 1986 and won’t be seen again until 2061, sheds debris that leads to the Orionids in October and the Eta Aquarids in May.
Spectators should find a dark area away from city lights, bring a blanket or chair, and lie on their back to watch the sky. With some patience and adaptation to the dark, skygazers can enjoy the beauty of the Orionid meteor shower.
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