Orionid meteor shower expected over Glasgow this week

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 17:02 · Archive

The Orionid meteor shower, caused by debris from Halley's comet, will peak on the night of October 21-22.

The Orionid meteor shower will peak over Glasgow on the night of October 21-22, though it will be visible for several days either side of this date. Between 10 and 20 meteors per hour may be seen under ideal conditions, according to NASA and Royal Museums Greenwich. The shower occurs annually in October as Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by Halley's comet as it travels around the sun.

The meteors are tiny pieces of cometary material, some as small as a grain of sand. When they enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds around 41 miles per second, they vaporise from friction with the air, creating bright streaks of light. The shower takes its name from the constellation Orion, as the meteors appear to radiate from that part of the sky, though observers do not need to locate Orion to enjoy the display.

For the best viewing, Royal Museums Greenwich recommends finding a safe location away from street lights and other light pollution, and allowing eyes time to adjust to the dark. No telescope is needed; the meteors can be seen with the naked eye. However, the Met Office forecast for Glasgow for the night of October 21-22 currently shows cloudy conditions, and moonlight in its waxing gibbous phase could also interfere with visibility.

How it is being reported

• Orionid meteor shower over Glasgow: When and how to see the peak of this stunning displaySky watchers should keep their eyes peeled in the coming nights for a stunning display of shooting stars, as the next annual meteor showers are set to light up the night sky.Glasgow Live · 20 Oct, 16:39
• Glasgow could see 20 meteors an hour as debris from Halley's comet returnsThe Orionid meteor shower may be seen over Glasgow later this week as the Earth passes through a stream of tiny debris left behind by Halley's comet.Glasgow Times · 19 Oct, 10:09

In this story: Glasgow · Halley's comet · NASA · Royal Museums Greenwich · Orion · Met Office

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