Stargazers can get a glimpse of one of the best known and stunning events this weekend. The Orionid meteor shower is one of the most reliable meteor showers in the annual calendar and it can be seen from across the globe.
In 2024 the Orionid meteor shower will be active from October 2 to November 7 but for the best view you need to be watching overnight on Sunday. For the stunning display will peak on the night of 21-22 October between midnight and dawn.
People should be able to see the shower for several days on either side of this date, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich. However the waning Hunter’s supermoon which was at its peak on earlier this week will mean the viewing conditions are less than ideal with experts saying watching from home might be the best idea.
According to the American Meteor Society, the bright moonlight will “severely hamper” views of this display. This means it is probably not worth hunting out a dark sky location but might be better to hope to see a particularly bright shooting star from your own doorstep
But what is the Orionid meteor shower and how do you have the best chance of seeing it? This is what experts from the Royal Museums Greenwich say:
What is the Orionid meteor shower?
Many people thing of the Orionids as extra special as the meteors are pieces of Comet 1P/Halley, better known as Halley’s Comet. This passes the earth only once every 75 – 76 years – it was last seen in 1986 and due to return in 2061 – but it does have this annual shower.
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.
According to NASA, the Orionids are one of the most beautiful showers of the year. They are known for their brightness and speed – they are predicted to strike earth’s atmosphere at 41 miles per second (66 kilometers per second), or around 148,000 mph (238,000 km/h).
When is the Orionid meteor shower?
The Orionids appear every year in late October and usually peak around the 21st. Although the Orionid will be at its most visible on October 21-22 in 2024, in fact there is a broad spectrum of days lasting about a week roughly centred on that date.
Lucky watchers can hope to see up to 20 meteors streaking across the sky every hour at its height..
How can I watch the Orionid meteor shower?
It can take time to spot a meteor so pull up a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while. The Royal Museums say: “They can be seen with the naked eye so there’s no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.
“In 2024 the Moon will be waning gibbous, so conditions are not particularly favourable this year. However, the shower lasts for over a month, so if the Moon affects the peak you may still be able to catch a few meteors throughout the shower’s duration.”
Where is best to watch the Orionid meteor shower?
For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution. The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, so it’s good to be in a wide open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes. But if you trace the paths that the meteors take, they seem to originate from the constellation of Orion.