Another spectacular astronomical event awaits us in October after the solar eclipse that took place in the sky in America. We refer to Orionid meteor showera meteor shower that occurs when Earth passes through the debris cloud left behind by Halley’s Comet.
This celestial body, the so-called 1P/Halley, passed close to our planet for the last time 37 years ago. However, on its journey through the solar system, it left behind remnants of rock and dust, which at this time of year enter the atmosphere and cause flashes known as shooting stars.
This meteor shower gets its name because its meteors appear to emerge nearby Constellation Oriona star cluster that is visible in both hemispheres and easily distinguished as home to some of the brightest stars in the sky.
Orionids 2023: when to see the October meteor shower?
Las Orionids 2023 they reach a maximum peak of activity during the nights of October 21 and 22. However, they occur from the end of September and last until the end of November.
According to NASA, you can see between this weekend 20 and 30 meteors per hour fly through the sky at a speed of 66 km/h. Some of them can even explode and cause flashes known as fireballs.
The position of the Orionid radiant in the sky on October 21 of this year in the Peruvian sky during the early morning. Photo: Stellarium capture
When to see the Orionid meteor shower?
The Orionid meteor shower will be visible during whole morning until about an hour before dawn. This will be a good time because at these times the apparent point of origin of the meteors will be higher in the sky.
The Orionid meteors will be visible if the meteorological conditions are suitable for their observation, such as a cloudless sky and no light pollution.
