Orionid Meteor Shower to Light Up the Night Sky

Parts of an historic comet will blaze throughout the sky this weekend because the Orionid meteor bathe reaches its peak, promising a vibrant show throughout the sky. This yr, the Orionids will stay seen till Nov. 4.

“The Orionid meteor shower is the remains of the Halley’s Comet,” mentioned Dillon Marcy, planetarium director at Georgia Southern University. “As it goes around the sun, Halley’s Comet leaves a trail of debris – and twice a year, Earth passes through that debris belt.”

Marcy in contrast the expertise to “driving your car when it’s love bug season; you just happen to hit a big pocket of love bugs.” In this case, Earth is driving by area, colliding with tiny items of the comet’s leftover mud and ice that expend within the ambiance. These meteors create vibrant streaks of sunshine. 

The Orionids sometimes peak in mid-October annually, and are identified for his or her pace and brightness. These meteors can go away glowing trails that final for a number of seconds, brought on by the ionized gases and heated air created as they expend in Earth’s ambiance. “It’s one of the few meteor showers that actually has bright streaks – and a lot of them,” Marcy mentioned, “It’s one of the more noticeable ones.”

How to View

The Orionids are greatest seen after midnight and earlier than daybreak. To catch the perfect view, discover a darkish, open space away from metropolis or campus lights. Spots just like the intramural subject are perfect for viewing. Allow your eyes about half-hour to regulate to the darkness earlier than observing, and also you’ll begin to discover meteors streaking throughout the sky. 

Marcy mentioned that whereas the Orionids have already handed their peak for 2025, “there’s still a chance to see them until the first week of November. Go out after 11 p.m., look for Orion and his belt, then just above and left of Betelgeuse – that’s the radiant where all the meteors will start flying through the atmosphere.”

Even after the height, Marcy famous that skywatchers can nonetheless count on to see about “10 to 20 streaks per hour.”

“Make sure you’re bundled up,” he added. “It might be in the 40s if you go look for it.”

Tip: Look towards the constellation Orion, close to the southeastern horizon. No telescope is required – simply clear skies and endurance. 

Where it Comes From

The Orionids originate from Halley’s Comet, a periodic comet that orbits the Sun each 76 years. Its final look was in 1986, and it’s anticipated to return in 2061. This comet’s connection to the Orionid meteor bathe was first proposed in 1868, many years after American astronomer Edward Herrick formally described the bathe in 1839. 

“It’s connected to one of the most well-known comets,” Marcy mentioned. “The chunks that came off of it are numerous enough and bright enough that they’re one of the medium-sized showers – bright, but not overwhelming. Every once in a while, depending on how much debris is in the belt, you can get up to 50 streaks per hour, if you’re lucky.”

Why It Captures Our Imagination

For many stargazers, the Orionids are a simple and rewarding celestial occasion to catch. “Staying up until 11 o’clock isn’t that hard to do,” Marcy mentioned. “And if you wake up early enough, you can see a bunch of them. When I was a kid, my mom used to wake me up to see them at 6:30 – which was annoying then, but I appreciate it now.”

The vibrant, fast-moving meteors make the Orionids one of the seen and memorable showers of the yr. “You will see them,” Marcy added. “They’ll be significant streaks – not just faint flashes you might mistake for satellites.”

Up and Coming

Several extra meteor showers are anticipated later this yr. The Northern and Southern Taurids are presently energetic, and can peak in mid-November. The subsequent main showers are the Leonids, peaking in late November, and the Geminids, reaching their top in mid-December. 

The Georgia Southern Planetarium will proceed internet hosting public reveals all through the semester. “We have at least one event per week,” Marcy mentioned. “Our last big show of the year will be Saturday, Dec. 6 – it’s our Christmas holiday show.”