Stargazing enthusiasts can expect to see a show this week as the yearly Orionid meteor shower hits. Every October debris from Halley’s Comet reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, causing a spectacular meteor shower that lights up the night sky.
The comet itself was last seen in 1986 and is only visible every 75 years and will next be seen from Earth in 2061.
The 2020 shower’s peak nights are between Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October in the early hours, with as many as 30 meteors predicted to be visible hourly.
The meteors will still be visible up until 7 November, but are best seen during the peak times.
The ideal time to go meteor-hunting is an hour before dawn, when everything is dark. Avoid artificial lights in order to get the best experience – parks are a great place to go.
You won’t need any equipment, either, as the meteor shower is visible with the naked eye and can be seen from pretty much any direction, best viewed in a wide-open area.