The Orionid meteor shower is expected to light up the night sky through most of November, as debris from Halley’s Comet enters Earth’s atmosphere. The shower peaks on October 21, with up to 15 meteors per hour visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Clear skies and minimal light pollution are essential for optimal viewing.
According to NASA, the Orionids are known for their brightness and speed, with some meteors leaving behind glowing ‘trains’ that can last up to several minutes. The visibility of these shooting stars depends on the lunar cycle, as a bright waning gibbous moon can outshine fainter meteors, reducing the number of visible meteors.
The meteors are part of the debris left by Halley’s Comet as it orbits the sun every 76 years. While the last time the comet was visible to casual astronomers was in 1986, it is not expected to return to the inner solar system until 2061, according to NASA. This means the Orionid meteor shower will continue to be a spectacular event for stargazers in the foreseeable future.
NASA recommends that skywatchers find dark, light-pollution-free areas and use a blanket to lie flat and take in as much of the sky as possible. It takes about 30 minutes for the eyes to adapt to the dark, allowing viewers to catch more meteors. Some of the meteors might even become fireballs, providing a breathtaking display for those who take the time to look up.
Additionally, while the Orionid meteor shower is the focus, NASA has also announced other space-related activities, such as the planned exploration of Jupiter’s icy moon for signs of life-supporting conditions and the upcoming mission to bring back stranded astronauts from the International Space Station. These developments underscore NASA’s ongoing commitment to space exploration and research.