Make a wish upon a star: Here’s how to watch this week’s Orionid meteor shower

By Georgina Torbet October 18, 2019

Barcroft Media/Getty Images

Turn your eyes to the skies the next few nights to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Orionid meteor shower. The annual shower will begin tonight, October 18, and continue for several days, peaking between October 20 and 22.

The meteors that make up the shower are the remnants of one of the most famous astronomical objects, Halley’s Comet. The comet has been observed throughout history, perhaps as early as in the Ancient Greek era, but its appearance every 75 years was first recorded in 1705 by Edmond Halley. When the comet passed by Earth most recently, in 1986, it left behind a trail of debris. It is this debris that falls into the Earth’s atmosphere and creates the meteor shower, which occurs around late October each year.

In order to get the best view of the meteor shower, you’ll need cloudless skies and low levels of light pollution. You can check the amount of light pollution in your area using DarkSiteFinder and check the weather forecast using the widget below:

You might need to get out of the city to view the event properly, as most urban environments have a background glow that blocks the light from the meteors. However, if you’re trying to view the shower, it’s best not to use binoculars or telescopes. Instead, try lying flat on the ground and looking up, viewing as much of the sky as is possible.

The best time to see the shower is after midnight, and you should look toward the constellation of Orion (the Hunter). The shower is named the Orionid Shower because it appears to originate from this constellation, though actually its true origin is much closer than these stars. By looking in this direction, you’ll have the best chance of viewing the event as it happens. If you can’t find Orion, don’t worry, as the meteors will appear to streak out in all directions across the sky.

There is an issue with the moon that may impede viewing this year. The moon will be in its last quarter phase, and its light may block some of the meteors. Brighter meteors should be visible even through the moonlight.

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Georgina Torbet

Space Writer

Georgina is the Digital Trends space writer, covering human space exploration, planetary science, and cosmology. She…

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NASA said that when the Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August it’ll offer “one of our most impressive skywatching opportunities for a while.”
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There are several key points to keep in mind to give yourself the best chance of witnessing an entertaining meteor shower.
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-- Find a spot that offers an expansive view of the night sky, if possible away from things like buildings, trees, and mountains that will reduce your viewing opportunities.
-- If you have a reclining seat that you can take with you, that's great. Failing that, a blanket to lie on will do. That way you won’t have to stand the whole time with your head tilted back, putting unnecessary strain on your neck.
-- Give your eyes around half an hour to adjust to the dark. If you’re coming from a brightly lit place, or you were just staring at your smartphone screen, your eyes need time to get used to the lower light levels. You’ll be surprised at how much more detail you can see in the night sky after just 15 minutes or so of adjustment.
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