This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
Get ready to witness one of nature's most breathtaking astronomical events - the Orionid Meteor Shower. This spectacular display of shooting stars takes place every year around mid-October, and this year is no exception.
According to astronomers, the Orionid Meteor Shower will peak on the evening of October 21, with an estimated 20 meteors per hour visible in the night sky. The best time to watch the shower is in the early hours of the morning, when the sky is at its darkest.
The Orionids originate from comet 1P/Halley, which sheds ice and rocky dust into space as it returns to the inner solar system. This debris eventually becomes the Orionids in October and the Eta Aquarids in May, if it collides with Earth's atmosphere.
To witness the Orionid Meteor Shower, find a dark location away from city or street lights and lie flat on your back with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere. Look up and take in as much of the sky as possible, and be patient - the show will last until dawn.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to see a shooting star. The Orionid Meteor Shower is a rare and awe-inspiring event that you won't want to miss.
Published on October 20, 2019 by Mirror.
