(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Orionid meteor shower is one of the biggest events of the year for people who like to watch exciting things happen in the night sky. The Orionid meteor shower–named because the meteors seem to originate from near the Orion constellation–is set to occur from October 4 to November 14. The best time to watch the meteor shower, though, is tonight: October 21.
The meteor shower is actually caused by debris from Hailey’s Comet, a major object that passes by Earth every 76 years. So how is it that we can see the Orionid meteor shower every year? Because the earth passes through the orbit of Hailey’s comet twice a year, allowing pieces of the rock to actually enter into our atmosphere and then heat up and disintegrate. These particles enter our atmosphere at a speed 80 times faster than high-powered rifle.
Sadly, this year the moon will ruin a lot of the good views you’d normally get. That’s why if you’re really keen on getting the most out of your Orionid meteor shower, you might consider live streaming the event instead.
How To Watch Orionid Meteor Shower Online
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