Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend: How and When to Watch | The Weather Channel
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The Orionid meteor shower is set to peak this weekend from Oct. 21-22, but the moon could get in the way.

ByDrew MacFarlane
October 17, 2018Updated: October 17, 2018, 8:59 pm EDTPublished: October 17, 2018, 8:59 pm EDT


The Orionid meteor shower is set to peak from Oct. 21-22, but the moon could get in the way.

(Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)




The Orionid meteor shower is set to peak this weekend from Oct. 21-22, but a vibrant moon may get in the way of some of the fainter meteors during the cosmic event.

"The moon is going to mess with you," Bill Cooke, a NASA meteor expert, told Space.com. 

During its peak, 15 to 20 meteors per hours should be visible and are some of the fastest among meteor showers at 148,000 mph in relative speed.

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The particles you'll catch buzzing across the sky are from Halley's Comet, the famous celestial cluster of ice and dust that passes by Earth every 75 to 76 years. As it makes its way around the sun, it leaves a trail of gas and dust behind it, which can be seen when the debris crosses between the Earth's orbit and the sun.

"You can see pieces of Halley's Comet during the Eta Aquarids (which take place in May) and the Orionid meteor shower (in October and November)," said Cooke.

The best viewing time will be around 2 a.m. on Oct. 21 and 22. However, if you miss the peak, you may be able to catch the peak on Oct. 29, barring the moon doesn't drown out the meteors.

While the peak can reach up to 80 meteors per hour, this year's shower is expected to be in the range of 20 to 30, like that of 2017.

To view the shower, try to reduce light pollution if possible, avoid using binoculars or telescopes and look up.

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