Reviewed by: Liv George
Orionid meteor shower set to peak Oct. 20: How to see it + other celestial events
Reading time: 2 minutes
It’s been quite a year for skywatchers across the country and especially right here in Alabama. From April’s total solar eclipse to a partial eclipse of a Harvest Moon just last month, there’s been some exciting events. We even saw the Northern Lights!
October is providing more opportunities to witness something special in the night sky.
Keep reading to see how you can watch this weekend’s meteor shower + how you can spot a rare comet before the end of the month.
Orionid meteor shower
One of the anticipated annual events for space enthusiasts is the passing of the Orionids meteor shower. This year’s peak is expected to happen in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 20 and 21—as long as the moon light isn’t too bright.
“Find an area well away from the city or street lights. Come prepared with a blanket. Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.”
~ Bill Cooke, NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville
The Orionids, which peak during mid-October each year, are considered to be one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year. Orionid meteors are known for their brightness and speed.
These meteors are also framed by some of the brightest stars, which often lend a spectacular backdrop.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
You may have already heard about the rare comet that has been spotted several times in recent weeks. The pictures can only show so much though and getting a chance to see it with your own eyes is a different experience.
The Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is a rare sighting as its projected to not be visible again for another 80,000 years. It was closest to Earth on Oct. 12—roughly 44 million miles away—but it should still be visible this month, fading just before Halloween.
NASA says the comet will appear on the western horizon about 45 minutes after sunset each day.
Do you have pictures from any of this year’s celestial events? Make sure to share them and tag The Bama Buzz on Instagram!
