The Orionid meteor shower, originating from Halley's comet, will reach its peak on October 21, 2024, with approximately 23 meteors visible per hour at 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT).
This annual event runs from September 26 to November 22, but viewing conditions may be hindered by a waning gibbous moon, which will illuminate the sky significantly. The full Hunter's Moon occurs on October 17, further complicating visibility.
The Orionids are known for their brightness and speed, entering Earth's atmosphere at about 41 miles per second (66 kilometers per second), equivalent to 148,000 mph (238,000 km/h).
Halley's comet, which orbits the sun every 76 years, is responsible for this meteor shower, as well as the Eta Aquarid shower in early May. The last appearance of Halley's comet was in 1986, with its next visit expected in 2061.
Despite their distant origins, the meteors appear to radiate from a region near Betelgeuse, a prominent star in the Orion constellation, which also features the well-known Orion's Belt. During the peak, Orion will be at its highest point around 2 a.m. in the Northern Hemisphere.