A METEOR shower is set to fill the skies with dozens of fireballs every single hour.
And it’s kicking off right now, giving you just over a month of night sky action – but don’t miss the best viewing time.
The Orionid meteor shower seen here in Nevada – it’s visible all around the world[/caption]
It’s called the Orionid meteor shower and it’s a special stargazing treat.
That’s because these meteors “tend to be particularly fast with persistent trains”, according to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
Here’s everything you need to know about the meteor shower, the full dates, and when is best to look up at the night sky.
WHAT IS THE ORIONID METEOR SHOWER?
This is one of the most reliable meteor showers and can be seen all across the world.
And it’s also particularly special.
A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through a stream of meteoroids.
These are chunks of debris left behind by comets or asteroids soaring through the night sky.
And as these tiny particles – which are often about the size of a grain of sand – enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up.
That’s what creates those iconic streaks of light across the sky.
They’re usually named after the constellation that they appear to come from.
And so the Orionids got their name because they appear to come from the constellation of Orion.
But they’re actually pieces of the iconic Halley’s Comet, which is known for passing through our night sky every 75 to 76 years.
It last visited in 1986, and won’t appear to Earth again until the middle of 2061.
But you can see the Orionids much more regularly, as Earth passes through the stream of debris every single autumn.
Halley’s Comet seen here passing by Earth in 1986 – and it won’t return until the 2060s[/caption]
So it’s much easier to spot than the comet itself.
ORIONID METEOR SHOWER 2025 DATES
If you want to watch the Orionid meteor shower, you’re in luck – it’s happening right now.
It runs from October 2 right through to November 7.
But the meteor shower will ramp up to a “peak”, so your chances of seeing fireballs improve greatly as you get closer to that date.
According to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, this year “peaks with a broad maximum lasting about a week around October 22”.
“What’s more, in 2025 the Moon will be new at the peak, meaning the skies will be nice and dark to spot some meteors,” the observatory added.
HOW TO WATCH ORIONID METEOR SHOWER
Your best chances of seeing a meteor shower streak will be around the peak.
The Orionid meteors originate from the same point in space.
So there’s no specific point to look at – they’ll soar out in all directions as they “radiate” across the sky.
“Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it’s best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while,” the Royal Greenwich Observatory explained.
“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 2025 the Moon will be new on 21 October, coinciding with the shower’s peak lasting a week around 22 October, meaning the skies will be nice and dark to spot the best of the Orionids.”
Experts at the historic Royal Observatory Greenwich said that the meteor shower is visible with the naked eye – no telescope needed[/caption]
What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?
- Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
- Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
- Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it’ll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn’t vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
- Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vapourising)
You’ll want to get out into the countryside if possible, far away from light pollution.
And ideally, you want to be in a wide and open area where you have the broadest view of the night sky.
That’s because a meteor streak could appear at any point of the sky.
But if you trace the streak backwards, it should look like it’s coming from Orion.
This image from a back garden in Mousehold, Cornwall in the UK shows an Orionid streak in the night sky in 2016[/caption]
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