The Orionid meteor shower will peak this Thursday night.
(WKBN) – The Orionid meteor shower occurs every fall, peaking around the third week of October.
The Orionid meteor shower begins in late September and continues until late November.
This year, the peak of the showers is on the night of October 20th and October 21st.
The good news is that the moon is only 21% full, which means less light pollution in the night sky and a better view.
How many meteors can we expect?
The Orion Shower typically produces about 15 meteors per hour at its peak during the third week of October.
The meteor is traveling at a speed of 41 miles per second. To relate this speed to a rocket, it is traveling through Earth’s atmosphere at about 148,000 miles per hour.
When is the best time to catch a meteor shower?
Orion can be seen in the sky after midnight. Less light pollution helps to catch a glimpse of these fast-moving meteors, so it’s best to stay away from city lights if possible.
Where should I look to see the meteor shower?
We want to look southeast to catch the show.
The region of the sky where meteors develop is near the constellation Orion, hence the name of the shower.
What are meteorites made of?
Meteors are made of space debris that enter the atmosphere each fall. Space debris comes from Comet Halley, which leaves behind ice and dust after it passes through our solar system. Twice a year, this remnant passes through the atmosphere in the Orion shower in the fall and in the Eta Aquarid in May.
Halley’s Comet orbits the Sun in a very long orbit, taking 76 years to complete. The last time we saw it was in 1986. It will not return inside the solar system until 2061.
https://fox40.com/news/national-and-world-news/orionid-meteor-shower-peaks-this-week-how-to-see-it/ The Orionid meteor shower will peak this Thursday night.