October 2023 has become a very attractive month for astronomy lovers; Fans of cosmic phenomena had the opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse a few days ago and will soon see a meteor shower.
Those who are dedicated watching the sky you will be able to appreciate the Orionid meteor showerone of the most beautiful space events the universe has to offer.
As NASA explained, these types of meteorites were called Orionids because they come from the constellation of Orion. In fact, these cosmic bodies are produced by dust and debris from Halley’s Comet as it enters Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 60 kilometers per second.
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The Bogotá Planetarium explained that the Orionid shower can generate a maximum of 20 visible meteors per hour. In addition, it has been suggested that the phenomenon can be observed from the early morning of October 20 until dawn on the 21st.
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However, NASA specified that the best time to appreciate the meteor shower will be during the pre-dawn hours of October 21.
So people who are in the Colombian territory will have the opportunity to appreciate this cosmic event in all its splendor, if the appropriate conditions are available.
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How to observe the meteor shower that will occur this October 21?
In order to best appreciate the Orionid meteor shower, it is important to have the right conditions. Therefore, it is advisable to adopt the following recommendations:
- Try to move to a place away from cities and with low light pollution.
- It is also recommended to observe at least one hour before sunrise, as this will be the darkest moment and where the phenomenon can be best appreciated.
- Although the Orionids appear to emanate from the constellation Orion, they can appear anywhere in the sky, so maintaining a panoramic view is key.
What is special about the Orionids?
According to experts, the Orionids have a special aspect that lies in the speed of their movement. As a result, when the meteoroids that break off from Halley’s Comet enter the Earth’s atmosphere at speeds close to 238,000 kilometers per hour, a bright trail is created that makes the meteor shower even more noticeable.
“The Orionids are also framed by some of the brightest stars in the night sky, providing a spectacular backdrop for these colorful meteors,” according to a press release issued by NASA.
