Orionid meteor shower to peak in UK night sky this week

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 06:07 · Archive

The Orionid meteor shower, made of debris from Halley's Comet, will peak on the night of October 21 in the UK.

The Orionid meteor shower will peak in the UK on the night of October 21, continuing into the early hours of October 22. The meteors are visible each year between October 2 and November 7 and are known for their fast, bright appearance.

The Orionids are fragments of Halley's Comet. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, a meteor is 'a piece of space debris that burns up as it enters the earth's atmosphere creating a shooting star'. While Halley's Comet only passes Earth once every 75 to 76 years, the annual Orionid shower provides compensation for those who may miss that once-in-a-lifetime event.

Meteors from the shower can be seen with the naked eye from all parts of the sky, though they appear to originate from the constellation Orion. Stargazers are advised to find a dark, open area away from city lights. However, a waxing gibbous moon will add extra light to the sky on October 21, which could make the meteors harder to spot.

How it is being reported

• Dazzling meteor shower from rare comet to peak in the UK this weekThe Orionid meteor shower, known for its fast, bright meteors, will peak in the coming week.Worcester News · 18 Oct, 05:00
• Dazzling meteor shower from rare comet to peak in the UK this weekThe Orionid meteor shower, known for its fast, bright meteors, will peak in the coming week.Malvern Gazette · 18 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Halley's Comet · Orion · Royal Museums Greenwich · UK

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