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One of the most fascinating meteor showers of the year, the Orionids Meteor Shower, is expected to be the most active overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning.

With an expected peak from Midnight until dawn October 21, 2020, you’ll have to either stay up late or rise early to catch the shower, but it will be worth the loss of sleep. The Orionids Meteor Shower is known for the brightness of the meteors, easily visible to those on the ground.

So why are the meteors so bright? Meteors within the Orionids travel at around 148,000 mph or almost six trips around the Earth in one hour! Glowing trails of debris following meteors at this speed persist in the sky for a decent amount of time, ranging from several seconds to even a few minutes. You’ll know if you are viewing the meteor shower if you see bursts of light in the sky for a prolonged period.

During the peak of the Orionids, up to 15 meteors per hours can be seen in a dark, moonless sky. For the best view, make sure to head as far from any light as possible, lay down with your feet facing the southeast direction (if you are unsure of which direction is southeast, bring a compass) and take in as much as the sky as possible. It is important to allow 30 minutes for your eyes to completely adjust to the darkness so you can view as many meteors as possible.

The Orionids Meteor Shower peaks annually in mid-October. Space debris left over from Comet Halley’s passage through the inner solar system in 1986 interacts with dust grains in Earth’s atmosphere each year. In October, these dust grains become the Orionids and help produce a fascinating meteor shower.

Make sure to head outdoors and look to the sky early before dawn Wednesday to see the Orionids Meteor Shower. If you miss it, don’t worry, there will be another peak next year around the same time!

Sources: solarsystem.nasa.gov
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Story Image: The Orionids Meteor Shower reappears annually due to the interaction with debris from Halley’s Comet. (NASA/JPL)

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Orionids Meteor Shower Peak