The Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight: How to see it

SAVANNAH, Ga ( WSAV ) — All sky and space lovers are in for a treat to start the week with the 2024 October Orionid meteor shower expected to be visible over the next few days.

The Orionids, which began in late September, are considered the most beautiful of the annual meteor showers. The activity typically peaks on October 20 and 21 but will be visible until November 22.

The Orionids come from Halley’s Comet. This comet orbits the sun every 76 years. Dust particles explode out of the comet and are left behind in its path. Earth moves through this path in late October each year, giving us a stunning meteor shower.

The Orionids are known to be fast, but faint, leaving trails that last for a few seconds before the meteor disappears. Peak nights see about 10-20 meteors per hour.

Now, when can we see this phenomenon?

The Orionid meteor shower can be seen anytime after midnight through the wee hours before dawn. The peak night with the most shooting stars expected is Sunday night through Monday morning.

If you want to catch the Orionids, experts recommend lying flat on your back away from any street lights or even the moonlight with your feet facing southeast. It may take some time for your eyes to adjust to seeing shooting stars, so be patient.

The make or break to seeing this shower is going to be sky conditions. The bright moon may impact conditions since it will still be in its waning gibbous stage on the night of peak conditions. A cloudy sky will also, of course, inhibit your viewing capabilities.

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