Oct 19, 2024 - Science

How to see Orionid meteor shower Sunday and early Monday

Kelly Tyko

Orionid meteor shower lights up the night sky over a desert in China in October 2023. — The Orionid meteor shower lights up the night sky over a desert on October 22, 2023 in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Be on the lookout for streaking meteors and fireballs — the Orionid meteors are expected to peak overnight Sunday and Monday before dawn each day, according to NASA.

Why it matters: It's the latest astronomical event in an active month of skywatching between rare northern lights sightings, the once-in-a-lifetime comet and the brightest supermoon of the year.

What to do know about Orionids

The big picture: This meteor shower is an annual event at the end of October when the Earth passes through meteoroids left behind by Halley's Comet.

The meteor shower is considered one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, per NASA.
The American Meteor Society says the meteor shower will be active until Nov. 22.

Best time to view Orionid metor shower

What we're watching: Depending on clear skies, the best time to see Orionid meteors is late night-early mornings on both Sunday and Monday, NASA said.

They should be viewable "after midnight through before dawn on the mornings," NASA notes.

Yes, but: The bright moon might make it difficult to see the meteor shower, NASA warns.

Tips to see the meteor shower

Zoom in: NASA offered the following tips on how to view the annual shower:

Find an area well away from the city or street lights, NASA's Bill Cooke advises.
"Come prepared with a blanket. Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible," said Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office in Huntsville, Alabama.

"In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors," Cooke added.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

The intrigue: This weekend might be one of the last chances to see the rare comet, C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, with your naked eye, per Space.com.

After this weekend, it will be best viewed with binoculars and a telescope, the site says.

More from Axios:

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How to see Orionid meteor shower Sunday and early Monday

What to do know about Orionids

Best time to view Orionid metor shower

Tips to see the meteor shower

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

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