Orionid cosmic light show. meteor shower will peak the next day during the new moon to make it easier to see. You can see meteors until early November.
As the Earth moves through the long, debris-strewn tails of a large comet, the debris falls to Earth in the form of meteors, which we call meteor showers. The Orionid meteor shower is produced by Comet 1P/Halley, known as Halley's Comet. Another meteor shower that Earth experiences thanks to Halley's Comet is the Eta Aquariids, which occurs in April and May.
The Orionids are also one of the longest-lasting major meteor showers, lasting over a month and a half. Most meteor showers last for several weeks or up to a month.
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When is the best time to view the Orionids?
The Orionids are forecast to peak on the evening of Monday, October 20, and the morning of Tuesday, October 21. Meteor showers are known for their bright, fast-moving meteors that leave trails in the sky that can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
Most experts agree that the show should be at its best between midnight and dawn. It's best to get there before sunrise.
Perhaps you can also see two rare comets on Monday and Tuesday – here's how.
Where should I look to see the Orionids?
The Orionids are named after the constellation Orion. All meteor showers are named after the constellation from which they appear to originate. From this point, called the radiant, you'll want to look up at the sky.
The constellation will rise above the eastern horizon at midnight local time in the United States. It will sweep into the southern sky in the evening, where it will eventually be drowned out by the sun at sunrise. If you can spot Jupiter, which will also be visible this night, Orion will be close by. If you're having trouble, try sites like Stellarium you have free sky maps you can use for reference.
Tips for viewing Orionids
According to NASA, the Orionid meteor shower is expected to produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The best way to get a good show is to get the conditions as ideal as possible.
Your enemy is light pollution, so you should get as far away from the city and suburbs as possible. Since Orion is in the eastern sky, leaving the city and heading east will help you avoid light pollution while viewing. You may see light streaks in the suburbs and city, but this is much less likely.
Gorgeous October supermoon by the third week of this month it will be long gone, so you won't have to contend with what will be one of the brightest moons of the year. The only other variable is the weather, which you can't control.
Once you have avoided light pollution, sit and look at the sky to the east and south. Meteors will be visible without magnification.
