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Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight - Here's how to see it
KCCI • • general
Key Points:
- The Orionids meteor shower, originating from debris of Halley's Comet, is the second major meteor shower in October and can be observed from October 2 to November 7, peaking on the night of October 21-22.
- Known for bright and fast meteors, the Orionids can produce up to 20 meteors per hour on average, with some showers reaching 60-70 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
- The radiant point of the shower is in the constellation Orion near the star Betelgeuse, visible in the northeast sky around midnight to 2 a.m. ET, especially after moonset at approximately 2:30 a.m. ET.
- For optimal viewing, observers should find a dark location away from light pollution, allow 15-20 minutes for their eyes to adjust, and ideally watch on a clear night, with current forecasts indicating favorable conditions.
- The Orionids are one of two meteor showers caused by Halley's Comet debris, the other being the Eta Aquarids in May, with the previous October meteor shower being the Draconids.
