Stargazers are in for a treat as the annual Orionid meteor shower will come into contact with our atmosphere tonight.
According to NASA.gov, the Orionids peak mid-October each year and “are considered to be one of the most beautiful showers of the year.”
“Orionid meteors are known for their brightness and for their speed,” according to NASA. “Fast meteors can leave glowing ‘trains’ which last for several seconds to minutes. Fast meteors can also sometimes become fireballs: look for prolonged explosions of light when viewing the Orionid meteor shower.”
These meteors come from 1P/Halley, also known as Halley’s Comet, which shoots past Earth every 75 to 76 years. The last time Halley’s Comet was casually observed was in 1986. It’s not expected to enter the inner solar system again until 2016, according to NASA.gov.
Gazing toward the atmosphere, stargazers will see about 15 meteors per hour zip through the night sky.
Aspiring astrologists will be able to view the Orionids whether in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. The Orionids will be viewable in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres and peaks after midnight.
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