One of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year will reach its peak very soon. Find out all the details here.
The Orionid meteor shower is one of the most anticipated astronomical events, as described by NASA, this is considered one of the most beautiful showers of the year, this is due to its brightness and speed, as these characteristics mean that during the event generate two phenomena that are undoubtedly worthy of admiration.
The space agency explains that these meteors are characterized by being fast, traveling at approximately 66 km/s towards the Earth’s atmosphere. This allows them to leave behind glowing ‘trains’ (glowing bits of debris in the meteor’s wake) that last from several seconds to minutes, as well as fireballs, which are seen as prolonged bursts of light.
So during the peak of the Orionid Meteor Shower we will have the opportunity to observe an incredible astronomical spectacle with glowing trains and balls of fire. You can not lose this!
When to see the Orionid Meteor Shower?
The Orionid meteor shower remains active from September 26 to November 22, 2022, however, the best time to observe this astronomical spectacle will be during its peak, on October 21, the date on which In addition, the brightness of the moon will not hinder the observation.
In this way, although these days it is possible to observe the meteor shower, it is advisable to wait and make the observations on October 20 and/or 21, days when there will be a thin moon in the sky (with approximately 23% illumination). ) and the rain will be approaching its maximum peak.
This could allow you to watch the meteor shower while enjoying the waning moon in the sky.
Where to see the Orionid meteor shower?
Fortunately, the Orionid meteor shower is visible in both the northern and southern hemispheres, so wherever you are you will have the opportunity to observe this astronomical spectacle.
How to see the Orionid meteor shower?
As with most meteor showers, the best time to observe is after midnight and until dawn. To do this, it is not necessary to look for the radiant, which corresponds to the famous constellation of Orion (hence the name of this meteor shower).
Thus, EarthSky tells us that “meteors often do not become visible until they are within about 30 degrees of their radiant point. And, she remembers, they are coming out of the radiant in all directions. They will appear everywhere in the sky.
So, to make the observation we advise you to do the following after midnight (in the early hours of October 21, 2022):
- Find a place away from light pollution.
- You should prepare a sleeping bag or blanket and lie on your back.
- NASA recommends lying on your back with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible and keep your eyes on it, for your eyes to adjust, this will happen after about 30 minutes.
- Look for the meteors in the opposite direction of the radiant (Constellation of Orion), there you will find the most visible and spectacular meteors.
- This way you will start to see meteors, remember to be patient, the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to observe it.
Where do meteorites come from?
The meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the trail that certain space bodies (such as a comet or an asteroid) leave when they go around the sun, in doing so, the pieces of dust that break off from them burn when they enter our atmosphere and a beam of light is produced that is visible to the naked eye to us, generating this great show.
In the case of the Orionids, they originate from Comet 1P/Halley. “Every time Halley returns to the inner solar system, her core throws ice and rocky dust into space. The dust grains eventually become the Orionids in October,” says NASA.
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