This week, the night sky will host the spectacular Orionid meteor shower, offering enthusiasts a dazzling display of up to 20 meteors per hour. The celestial event is set to peak on Tuesday, October 21, coinciding perfectly with the new moon phase of October. This celestial alignment provides an ideal dark backdrop, enhancing visibility, provided the weather cooperates.

According to the American Meteor Society, observers could witness between 10 to 20 meteors, often referred to as fireballs, streaking across the heavens each hour. The Orionids are a result of Earth passing through the trail of debris left by Halley’s Comet, reaching their zenith in mid-to-late October.

For astronomy enthusiasts, this is an eagerly anticipated period, offering a chance to experience one of the year’s most anticipated meteor showers under optimal viewing conditions.

The Orionid meteor shower typically peaks in mid-to-late October when Earth passes through the debris left by Halley’s Comet.

NASA says the Earth passes through the comet’s debris trail twice each year, leading to two different yearly meteor showers. The showers happen in May, the Eta Aquarids, and again in October, as the Orionids.  

Each pass Halley’s Comet makes through the inner solar system leaves behind trails of ice and dust—perfect fuel for meteor showers. The comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun and the last time it was seen on Earth was in 1986, according to NASA.

The comet will not enter the inner solar system again until 2061, the space agency says.

Find a spot away from city lights and head outside after midnight. Lie flat on your back and look up. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. 

NASA says the meteor shower is best viewed during the pre-dawn hours, but the sweet spot is between midnight and 2 a.m. Make sure to look to the southeast sky, near the direction of the Orion constellation to help spot the meteors. 

Meteor showers occur annually as the Earth passes through debris trails left by comets, NASA says. 

They are usually named after a star or constellation that is close to where they appear in the sky. About 48.5 tons of “meteoritic material” fall on Earth each day, NASA says. Most of the material vaporizes while traveling through Earth’s atmosphere, producing a bright trail that is known to us as a shooting star. 

NASA says that several meteors can be seen on any given night, but the number dramatically increases during meteor showers.

The source of the Orionids are debris from Comet 1P/Halley.

The next major meteor shower to watch is the Southern Taurids, which peaks in early November. November will also host the peak of the Northern Taurids and the Leonids, according to the American Meteor Society.