Orionid meteor shower to light up night sky

The display will peak on Saturday night, into the early hours of Sunday, producing up to 25 meteors every hour.
The Orionids are actually pieces of Halley’s Comet (Danny Lawson/PA)
PA Archive
Nina Massey20 October 2023

Skygazers are set for some celestial fireworks as debris left by Halley’s Comet lights up the night sky.

The Orionid meteor is active throughout October but is expected to peak on Saturday night, producing up to 25 meteors every hour, and remaining visible until the early hours of Sunday.

Some people view the Orionids as particularly special as the meteors are actually pieces of Comet 1P/Halley, better known as Halley’s Comet.

This meteor shower holds a special place in the annual calendar of celestial events, not only for its breath-taking beauty but also because it originates from the debris of one of the most renowned comets in history, Halley's Comet

Dr Minjae Kim, University of Warwick

Although the comet swings by the earth only once every 75 to 76 years, this annual shower – which originates from the Orion constellation – provides some compensation for those who may miss that once-in-a-lifetime event.

As the comet follows its path around the sun, it leaves a path of tiny debris which enters Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of around 41 miles per second.

Dr Minjae Kim, research fellow at the department of physics, University of Warwick, said: “The Orionid meteor shower is a globally visible celestial event that takes place from October 2 to November 7, with its peak occurring on the night of October 20 to 22, typically between midnight and dawn.

“However, you can easily catch a glimpse of this meteor shower for several days before and after its peak date on your annual calendar.

If you missed already the ‘once-in-a-lifetime event’ of Halley’s Comet, don't worry, this annual Orionid meteor shower offers a unique opportunity providing some compensation

Dr Minjae Kim, University of Warwick

“This meteor shower holds a special place in the annual calendar of celestial events, not only for its breath-taking beauty but also because it originates from the debris of one of the most renowned comets in history, Halley’s Comet (1P/Halley).

“Halley’s Comet graces Earth with its presence only once every 75 to 76 years, leaving behind a trail of cosmic debris, including dust and grit, along its orbit during each pass around the sun.

“So, if you missed already the ‘once-in-a-lifetime event’ of Halley’s Comet, don’t worry, this annual Orionid meteor shower offers a unique opportunity providing some compensation.”

Visible to the naked eye in all parts of the sky, all that is needed to spot the display is a bit of patience, a clear sky and a safe spot away from street lights and other light pollution.

The Orionids will be visible in both northern and southern hemispheres until November 7.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in