The Oronides meteor shower arrives at night tonight (October 21), making this an excellent time to get out and watch some fireballs streak through the atmosphere.
Viewing conditions for this year’s Orioids meteor shower are favorable, as the moon will be in a waxing and waning phase and it will only be illuminated by 17%. The Oronides are considered one of the most reliable meteor showers after the Geminids and Perseids, and are known to produce dozens of meteors per hour, making this year’s shower an excellent opportunity to see the afternoon sky
The Oronids get their name from the fact that the radiant of the meteor shower, the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate, is in the constellation Orion next to the hunter’s club. In the Northern Hemisphere, Orion will be located in the southwestern sky; in the southern hemisphere, the constellation will appear in the northwestern sky.
Related: Orioides meteor shower 2022: when, where and how to see it
Every year, towards the end of October, Earth passes through a swarm of meteoroids left behind by Halley’s comet. When these bits of dust meet our planet’s atmosphere, they collide with friction and ignite the air in front of them. Even a small piece of Halley debris the size of a pea can burn with enough incandescence to be seen from 100 km (60 miles) below the ground.
Orion is located on the celestial equator and can be seen all over the world. (Image credit: Eerik via Getty Images)
The best time of night to see the meteors will be early Saturday morning (October 22) just before dawn. Predawn meteors tend to be brighter than those earlier in the night due to the fact that the Earth at this time of night is moving in the direction the meteors originate. Meteors in the early morning will appear faster and brighter than those observed in the early evening.
To view the shower, place a comfortable reclining chair, find an area with as little light pollution as possible, and make sure you stay warm. Give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust.
Editor’s note: If you take a photo of the Orioides meteor shower that you want to share with Space.com and our news partners for a story or image gallery, please send images and comments to: spacephotos@ space.com (open in new tab).
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