Orionid Meteor Shower Set to Streak Across Night Skies This Week

Stargazers are being encouraged to look up this week as the Orionid meteor shower becomes active, with meteors expected to be visible in increasing numbers ahead of its peak next month.

The Orionids occur every year as Earth passes through a trail of dust and debris left behind by Halley's Comet, which last passed near Earth in 1986 and will not return until the 2060s. As fragments from the comet's tail burn up in the atmosphere, they create the brief streaks of light known as shooting stars.

When and how to watch

The shower is typically best viewed in the hours after midnight and before dawn, when the constellation Orion, from which the meteors appear to radiate, is high in the sky. Forecasters advise finding a location away from artificial light, allowing at least 20 minutes for eyes to adjust to the dark, and avoiding the use of telescopes or binoculars, since meteors are best seen with the naked eye across a wide field of view.

Visibility will depend on local weather and moonlight, both of which can reduce the number of meteors observed. The Orionids are known for producing fast-moving meteors, some of which leave glowing trails that persist for a second or two after the initial streak.

The shower is one of two annual events linked to Halley's Comet, the other being the Eta Aquariids in May, and is a regular fixture for amateur astronomers each autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.