Look to the sky this month and you just might catch a glimpse of some meteors. Not just any meteors in fact, but meteors created by one of our best-known comets.
The Orionids meteor shower occurs yearly and the time to catch them in 2024 is here. While they have been visible for a few weeks now, they are approaching their brightest moment very soon.
No special equipment is needed to witness the Orionid meteor shower, but there are a few key things to know first. Below, we’ve broken down when and how to see them – and their intriguing origin.
When is the Orionid meteor shower 2024?
The Orionid meteor shower will peak on the night of 21-22 October 2024. The shower has been active since 2 October, but will be most visible during the peak.
It is expected that the event will peak at around 7am BST (1am CT) on 22 October.
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This is the perfect time to try and see the event occur as they will be at their brightest. However, if you can’t make the time during those two days, they will be a similar level of visible a few extra days on either side.
How can you see the Orionid meteor shower?
Sadly, like most space-based events, the Orionid meteor shower isn’t always easy to see. However, heading out to a more remote area with less light pollution will help a lot. This offers up a clearer view of the sky and, in theory, of the shower.
The good news is that the Orionid shower can be seen by the naked eye so there is no need for binoculars or telescopes. Just a comfy chair and a warm drink while you wait for the event to begin.
Where to look to see the Orionids
It will come as no surprise that the Orionids appear to originate from the constellation Orion. The easiest way to track down Orion in the sky is to look for the hunter's belt. This is a constellation made up of three bright stars.
They are relatively close together, almost in a straight line. Two additional stars make up the hunter's feet, with another two making up its shoulders.
Look slightly below Orion's belt and you'll spot a fuzzy patch. This is the Orion Nebula. While this will be the best place to look to witness the event, you don't need to look exclusively in this direction. The meteors should be visible across the whole of the sky.
If this all sounds a bit confusing, an astronomy app could help you track down the exact locations to look in the sky.
What is the Orionid meteor shower?
This is actually quite a unique meteor shower. That’s because the pieces you see flying through the sky are actually from Comet 1P/Halley, better known as Halley’s Comet. The comet itself only passes by Earth roughly every 75 years so these yearly showers are the best opportunity you’ll get to see it.
Halley’s comet is next expected to pass by Earth in 2061. It is named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley, who examined reports of the comet passing Earth in previous years.
As the comet makes its journey around the Sun, tiny pieces of debris fly off. These pieces of debris enter Earth’s atmosphere at an astonishing speed of 41 miles per second, vaporising from friction against the air. This gives off the streaks of light seen in meteors.
Where is Halley's Comet now?
Pinpointing the exact location of Halley's Comet is tricky, but we have a rough estimate of its location. Right now, the comet is in the constellation of Hydra, roughly 1,350 light-years away from Earth (or 6 trillion miles).
It will continue its journey, next appearing in the night sky in the summer of 2061.
What will the shower look like?
In perfect conditions, the Orionids exhibit a maximum of around 10-20 meteors per hour. They are known for their fast, bright meteors. These leave long glowing trails in the sky making them a real spectacle.
Of course, this will look more impressive when viewed from a more remote area. Aiming for October 21 or 22 will also help to get the best viewing experience possible.
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