Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks This Week: How to Watch

Skygazers can look forward to the peak of the Orionid meteor shower this week. The annual event occurs as Earth travels through the dust and debris left behind by Halley's comet.

As this debris enters Earth's atmosphere at speeds of approximately 41 miles per second, it burns up due to friction, creating bright streaks of light across the night sky. The Orionids are known for being fast and bright, often producing long-lasting glowing trails and fireballs.

To best observe the meteor shower, find a location away from city lights with a wide, open view of the sky. Allow your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. No special equipment is needed, as the meteors are visible to the naked eye.

The meteors will appear to originate from the constellation Orion, near the star Betelgeuse. This point of origin is called the radiant. Between midnight and dawn, Orion will climb higher in the southern and then southwestern sky.

For optimal viewing, observers are advised to look slightly away from the radiant, as meteors will be more visible in that direction. However, the visibility may be affected by the Moon, which will be in its waxing gibbous phase on the night of October 21. This will add extra light to the night sky. Conditions are expected to improve after the Moon sets around 3:00 AM BST on Thursday morning.

Under clear skies, it may be possible to see between 10 to 20 meteors per hour during the shower's peak.