Orionid meteor shower to light up October skies with fiery cosmic display
The annual Orionid meteor shower is set to peak overnight between October 21 and 22, offering skywatchers a chance to see bright meteors and fireballs. These meteors are debris from Halley's Comet, which enters Earth's atmosphere at high speeds.
Why it matters
It provides public interest information regarding a recurring astronomical event and explains the scientific origins of the meteor shower.
THE TAKEAWAY Skywatchers, get ready — one of the year's most beautiful meteor showers is back and set to light up the October night sky this week. OCTOBER SKYWATCHING GUIDE: HUNTER'S MOON, METEOR SHOWERS, SATURN AT OPPOSITION AND MORE YOU CAN'T MISS The Orionid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight from Oct. 21 to 22, delivering a spectacular display of shooting stars, according to NASA. The meteors are known for their brightness and speed, traveling at about 41 miles per second as they enter Earth's atmosphere. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER According to NASA, these fast-moving meteors can leave behind glowing \"trains,\" incandescent bits of debris in the wake of the meteor. These glowing bits can last anywhere from several seconds to minutes. Some Orionids can even become fireballs, producing exceptionally bright flashes of light in the night sky.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in