Fall 2024 is bursting with space surprises, from a mini-moon to October’s supermoon to the dazzling Orionids meteor shower lighting up the night sky.
The Orionid meteor shower will peak on the mornings of Oct. 20 and 21, with the best viewing likely on the 21st. While not the strongest meteor shower of the year, the Orionids can still surprise observers with their fast-moving meteors, which sometimes leave persistent trails. Viewers can expect to see 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
If you want to stay updated on upcoming celestial occurrences, be sure to check out this calendar of the biggest astronomical events of 2024.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 Orionid meteor shower.
What is the Orionid meteor shower?
The Orionid meteor shower originates from Comet Halley, a comet familiar to many.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“Unlike a lot of other meteor showers, the average kid has probably heard of Halley’s Comet and might have even seen a picture of it taken with a telescope or spacecraft,” said Theodore Kareta, a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.
“It’s also not the only meteor shower that Halley’s Comet has left behind, the Eta Aquariids also come from Halley and can be seen in early May.”
Kareta said meteor showers are named for their radiant point in the sky, where the meteors seem to originate. The Orionids’ radiant point is in the constellation Orion.
When is the Orionids meteor shower 2024?
The Orionid meteor shower, while not the most prolific, will be active from Sept. 26-Nov. 22, 2024. The meteors will be most visible for about a week in October, Kareta said.
“This year (they’ll peak) on the 21st of October,” Kareta said. “Your best bet is to go looking after midnight, like most meteor showers.”
What time is the Orionid meteor shower 2024?
The peak time to see the Orionid meteors is after midnight on Oct. 21-22. Kareta recommends looking at around 2 a.m.
Where should I look for the Orionid meteor shower?
To best view the meteor shower, Kareta recommends finding a location with an unobstructed view of the night sky, away from trees or mountains. At around 2 a.m., Orion will be nearly overhead, and you may see Orionids radiating from the constellation.
“Orion has the very bright star Betelgeuse in it, good timing for Tim Burton, one assumes, so it’s often an easier constellation for people to spot than others which are a little less distinct,” said Kareta.
Does the Orionid meteor shower happen every year?
Yes, the Orionid meteor shower happens every fall.
Where’s the best place to see a meteor shower?
You can witness the Orionid meteor shower from anywhere. The farther you get from city lights, the more meteors you’ll see.
“With any meteor shower, you might get lucky and see a bright one or two from your backyard if you live in a big city,” said Kareta.
“That said, you’re missing out on most of the action if you don’t go find someplace dark to spend a few hours in. Your eyes can take as long as half an hour to adjust to low-light conditions, so find someplace where you can sit down and spend some time in low-light conditions while still being safe.”
How long does a meteor shower last?
The Orionids peak for about two nights, but you can see activity for about two weeks overall around the peak time. The best viewing is generally in the early morning hours.
“The most likely situation is that people will see some 10-20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, far from city lights, eyes adjusted to the darkness and a wide unobstructed view of the night sky when the radiant is right overhead,” said Kareta.
Does a meteor shower look like a shooting star?
Yes, meteors in a meteor shower look like shooting stars and are often referred to as shooting stars. They are bright streaks of light created when meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up.
Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.
Support local journalism and subscribe to azcentral.com.