The night sky could be even more gorgeous than usual this month, thanks to the Orionid meteor shower.
The annual meteor shower is considered to be one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, known for illuminating the dark sky with bright and fast meteors that can leave long light trails, According to NASA.
This autumn meteor shower can occasionally produce fireballs – exceptionally bright meteors that can be seen over a very large area.
The Orionids earned their name by appearing to have originated from a part of the sky containing the Orion constellation, but the Orionid meteors are actually bits of dust left in the wake of Halley’s famous comet, which also produces the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. every spring. Related: Giant planets on parade, falling meteors: tips for observing the sky in October
The Orionids of 2022 have already begun and will last until November 22, peaking in the hours before sunrise on October 21 at around 10-20 meteors per hour.
In order to have the best chance of seeing the most incredible meteor, NASA states that it fixes the southeast sky at a distance of between 45 and 90 degrees from the constellation of Orion. If you can’t find Orion, no problem – look at the sky to the southeast and give your eyes about half an hour to adjust to the darkness, at which point you should start seeing meteors.
You don’t need special equipment to watch Orionids; Just wear warm clothes and go out after midnight under a clear sky, as dark as possible, from where you can enjoy a wide expanse of night sky. Some of Michigan’s best places for stargazing include remote lake beaches, dark-sky parks, and much of the Upper Peninsula.
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