The Orionid meteor shower is one of the best-known and most reliable meteor showers in the annual calendar, visible from across the globe.
And stargazers don’t have long to wait until it peaks, as it is coming to the UK skies later this week.
The showers are a spectacular watch with many of the streaks in the sky made up of nothing bigger than particles of sand - but for nighttime sky watchers, this is one shower on the calendar not to be missed.
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming spectacle, so you can be in the best place at the best time for the best view.
When is the Orionid meteor shower?
This year the Orionid meteor shower is active in the skies from October 2 to November 7 and will take place at a variety of times. However, experts predict the show will peak on the night of 21 and 22 October between midnight and dawn - with the best time said to be between midnight and 1am. Star spotters should be able to see the shower either side of this date.
What is the Orionid meteor shower?
The meteor shower is one of the most popular of the year for sky-gazing fans as it is dubbed “extra special” because of how the meteors were formed. The meteors are formed of small pieces of Comet1P/Halley - also more famously known as Halley’s Comet.
The comet swings by the earth only once every 75 years but this annual shower comes from pieces of that, meaning those in search will see something even if they miss that once-in-a-lifetime event.
Experts at the Royal Museum Greenwich explain: “As the comet follows its path around the sun, it leaves a path of tiny debris. The cometary debris enters our planet’s atmosphere at speeds of around 41 miles per second, vaporising from friction with the air causing the streaks of light we call meteors.”
Where in the sky can I see Orionid meteor shower?
Looking for meteor showers is a waiting game, so patience is needed if you want to catch a glimpse of it.
You should take something comfy to sit on and wrap up warm as you could be waiting for a while for the best views.
The Orionid shows will be able to be seen by the naked eye, so you will not need binoculars or a telescope but you will need to be outside for a length of time before the meteor shower to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
These fast-moving meteors occasionally leave persistent trains. The Orionids sometimes produce bright fireballs which is why it is one of the easiest to spot in the calendar.
For the best view, you should find a location away from street lights and other light forms and preferably in a wide open space with a big view of the nighttime sky.
This is normally a well-spotted meteor shower, and if you can see the constellation of Orion in the sky, the meteor shower will tend to originate from there. For help in how to find Orion in the sky, click here for tips.
