Orionid Meteor Shower 2016

Orionid Meteor Shower

Get the hot chocolate and blankets ready – the Orionids are coming to a night sky near you. In 2016, peak activity occurs in the pre-dawn morning of 21 October, but meteors may be seen until the end of the month.

Twice a year, the Earth crosses the orbital path of Halley’s Comet – once in May and once in October. Comets constantly shed dust and stones as they fly around the Sun, and it is this debris along Halley’s path that causes the Orionids. The debris hits Earth’s atmosphere at nearly 150,000 kilometres an hour and burns up in bright, short blazes about 80 kilometres off the ground. In May this same debris trail causes the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.

Halley’s Comet takes 76 years to orbit the Sun and will next be visible from Earth in 2061.

When to view meteors

The Orionids are named after the famous Orion constellation as this is the direction from which they appear to originate. After midnight, you’ll find Orion rising in the Eastern sky. While the meteors appear to originate from Orion, they are best seen 30 degrees away from origin, so be sure to keep careful watch across the whole sky.

To view the Orionids from the UK, head outside before dawn (perhaps between 5:00-7:00am before the Sun rises). Look up, keep an eye on the whole sky, and find as dark a location as you can!

The Moon will be approaching third quarter and its glare may mean you won’t see quite as many meteors, but be patient.

Meteor Infographic