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Orionid Meteor Shower

If you regularly stargaze with a special someone in a clear, dark sky, chances are you're set to see the beauty of the Orionid meteor shower this weekend.

This meteorological sighting will illuminate the skies very soon, and here's when you can view this event.

Catch Glimpses of Orionid Meteor Shower

While the shower is set to reach its pinnacle at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday as CNN reported, you can catch glimpses of these celestial wonders all weekend long. Expect a meteoric display with an impressive rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour, gracing the night sky from all corners of the world.

To fully enjoy your celestial viewing experience, you need to wake up early in the morning. Around 2 AM, the meteors will start to brighten the skies from the constellation Orion.

According to Dr. Ashley King, a planetary science researcher from the Natural History Museum in London, there's a better viewing schedule for the meteor shower. Once the darkness starts, it's about time to get started with this adventure.

This weekend, the moon will be in its first quarter phase, setting around midnight, as noted by the American Meteor Society. While it may slightly dim the meteoric display, it's not enough to eclipse the beauty of the Orionids.

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How to Optimize Your Meteor-Viewing Experience

To best view the fireballs in the skies, The Sun reports that it's best to first rest your eyes for at least 15 minutes so it can adjust to the dark. From here, you can begin your stargazing session and enjoy the light pollution over the weekend with Orionid meteor sightings.

Comet Halley's Legacy

The Orionid meteor shower traces its origin back to one of the most renowned comets, Halley. Although Halley won't grace Earth's night sky until 2061, its legacy endures in the form of this annual meteor shower. As Earth intersects with the debris left behind by the comet, the Orionids come to life.

"What you're seeing are little comet dust grains that are traveling really quickly. When they enter the atmosphere, they get heated up and vaporize, and you get that bright streak - and that's what we call a meteor," King explained. "

How Fast Are Orionids

Renowned for their swiftness, the Orionids streak across the sky at a staggering speed of 148,000 miles per hour. This remarkable pace often results in long, brilliant trails as the meteors release dust while they vaporize in the Earth's atmosphere.

Occasionally, meteor showers exhibit unexpected surges in meteor rates. While this year's Orionids are expected to maintain their regular performance, it's worth noting that meteor showers have been known to surprise observers with enhanced displays."

Upcoming Meteoric Sightings

After the grand performance of the Orionids, meteor enthusiasts can look forward to more celestial wonders. Here are the upcoming meteor showers to mark on your calendar:

• Southern Taurids: November 5-6

• Northern Taurids: November 11-12

• Leonids: November 17-18

• Geminids: December 13-14

• Ursids: December 21-22

With the Orionid meteor shower illuminating the weekend skies, and more celestial events on the horizon, the wonders of the universe continue to captivate us all.

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