Orionid meteor shower peaks Wednesday night despite bright moon
The Orionid meteor shower will reach its maximum on Wednesday night, offering up to 20 meteors per hour, though a waxing gibbous moon may reduce visibility for part of the viewing window.
The Orionid meteor shower, produced when Earth passes through debris from Halley’s comet, is expected to peak at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with the most favorable viewing period during the overnight hours between Wednesday and Thursday, according to EarthSky. Sky-watchers in both hemispheres should begin to see meteors after local midnight.
A waxing gibbous moon will be 76 % illuminated on Wednesday night, which could diminish the shower’s visibility, the American Meteor Society notes. The moon is forecast to set a few hours before sunrise, leaving a window in which observers might spot up to 20 meteors per hour.
Orionid meteors travel at about 41 miles per second (66 kilometers per second) and can produce bright fireballs and lingering trails that persist for seconds to minutes, NASA says. The meteors appear to radiate from the direction of the Orion constellation but are visible across the sky.
Astronomers advise viewing from locations with minimal light pollution and recommend reclining in a lawn chair or lying on the back to maximize the field of view.
The American Meteor Society also lists peak dates for additional meteor showers later in the year.