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If you’re seeking an extraordinary celestial phenomenon this weekend, cast your gaze towards the night sky to witness the brilliant Orionid meteor shower. This captivating event will reach its peak at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, but you can expect to see shooting stars streaking across the sky all weekend, with a rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour, according to EarthSky. The Orionids can be observed from any location around the globe during nighttime.
The prime time for meteor spotting is during the early morning hours when the radiant, which is the apparent origin point of the meteors (in this case, the constellation Orion), is at its highest point, typically around 2 a.m. local time. However, Dr. Ashley King, a planetary science researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, explains that meteors can start appearing as soon as it gets dark.
This weekend, the moon will be in its first quarter phase and will set close to midnight, which may slightly hinder meteor visibility, according to the American Meteor Society. Dr. King advises observers to wait for the moon to set before stargazing. Even in city areas, several meteors should still be visible if you simply scan the sky patiently.
To maximize your chances of witnessing a meteor, Dr. King suggests spending at least 10 to 20 minutes outside prior to stargazing to allow your eyes to adapt to the low light. If feasible, find a location away from light pollution that offers an unobstructed view of the dark sky.
The Origin of Orionid Meteors
The Orionid meteors are remnants of the famous Halley’s Comet, which completes its 76-year orbit around the sun. Although the comet won’t be visible in Earth’s night sky until 2061, it leaves behind a trail of debris that our planet encounters annually, resulting in the Orionid meteor shower.
Every year in early May, Earth passes through a distinct section of Halley’s orbit trail, leading to the appearance of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.
According to Dr. King, what we see during meteor showers are tiny dust grains from the comet traveling at high speeds. As these grains enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they heat up and vaporize, producing the luminous streaks we call meteors.
The Orionids shine brightly and move rapidly, reaching speeds of 148,000 miles per hour (238,183 kilometers per hour), as stated by NASA. Due to their high velocity, they often leave long trails in the sky, evidence of the dust released by the meteors as they heat up.
Occasionally, meteor showers may experience unexpected surges in meteor rates. Between 2006 and 2009, the Orionids witnessed between 50 to 75 meteors per hour, as reported by the American Meteor Society. Although normal rates are expected this year, there is always the possibility of a delightful surprise, as noted on the organization’s website.
“Not only are they spectacular — it’s exciting to see the bright streaks across the sky, and it’s not something you see every day — but this is dust grain that formed just over 4.6 billion years ago,” Dr. King highlights. “This is dust from the birth of the solar system.”
Upcoming Meteor Showers
Once the Orionids reach their peak, the number of visible meteors will gradually decline until the shower concludes on November 22. If you miss this weekend’s peak, there are still five other meteor showers remaining for you to catch later this year:
● Southern Taurids: November 5-6
● Northern Taurids: November 11-12
● Leonids: November 17-18
● Geminids: December 13-14
● Ursids: December 21-22
Upcoming Full Moons
The Farmers’ Almanac lists three remaining full moons for 2023:
● October 28: Hunter’s moon
● November 27: Beaver moon
● December 26: Cold moon
Upcoming Lunar and Solar Eclipses
On October 14, people across North, Central, and South America were treated to the mesmerizing spectacle of an annular solar eclipse, creating a “ring of fire” in the sky as the moon passed between the sun and Earth. Notably, this was the final solar eclipse event until 2024.
However, on October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will occur and be visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America, and much of South Africa. During this eclipse, a portion of the moon will pass into Earth’s shadow, momentarily revealing the shadow on the lunar surface.
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