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Orionid meteor shower: How to watch
CNN • • science
Key Points:
- The Orionid meteor shower, caused by Earth passing through debris from Halley’s comet, peaks overnight Wednesday into Thursday, offering the best viewing hours after midnight local time across both hemispheres.
- A bright waxing gibbous moon, 76% illuminated, may hinder visibility early in the night, but it will set a few hours before sunrise, allowing an optimal window to see up to 20 meteors per hour.
- Orionid meteors travel at high speeds (41 miles per second) and can produce bright fireballs and lingering trails, originating from the Orion constellation but visible across the sky.
- Observers are advised to avoid light-polluted areas and lie back to get a wide view of the sky for the best experience.
- Additional meteor showers are expected later in the year, with peak dates provided by the American Meteor Society for sky-watchers to anticipate.
