There’s nothing quite as magical as a celestial spectacle. Few things are as awe-inspiring and can instantly make us feel as interconnected as the beauty and enormity of the Universe. If you’re looking for a bit of perspective, then, we’ve got great news: Australia is in for one of the most stunning night-sky phenomena on the calendar. That’s right, the jaw-dropping Orionid meteor shower is set to peak later this month. So if you can’t bear to miss out on astronomical events, here’s your guide to the galaxy:
Orionid Meteor Shower
Meteors are streaks of light caused by dust and debris, usually left behind by a comet, burning up as they hit Earth’s atmosphere at very high speeds. Due to this speed, the particles create bright streaks of light that we can see from way down here.
Even on a regular night, if you’re in a dark location away from light pollution, you might be able to see some meteors, thanks to the sheer quantity of debris that litters space. Meteor showers, however, present the opportunity to see a much higher number of meteors.
The famed Halley’s Comet, which takes 76 years to orbit the Earth — it’s due to return in 2061, so mark that on your calendars — is responsible for leaving behind a lovely trail for us to witness: the Orionids. They are one of two meteor showers created by the debris from the Comet’s wake, and they are made up of a display of 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
Meteor showers are named after the constellation where they appear to be coming from. As you may have gathered from the name, this particular shower appears to come from the direction of the constellation of Orion.
Although the Orionids Meteor Shower is active from October 2 to November 7, it’ll peak on the night between October 20 and 21. And, this year, we’re in luck the shower will coincide with a new moon, meaning no moonbeams to interfere with our celestial viewing.
How to watch
Thankfully, as long as the sky is clear and cloudless, you won’t need equipment to see either of these cosmic wonders! It’ll be most visible after midnight on the night of October 20 to 21, when the Earth is facing the same direction as its trajectory through space, so that it directly encounters the meteoroid stream, but the shower will be delighting us all night. To calculate sunrise and moonrise times in your location for more precise viewing, head here.
Although the new moon will be a huge help, it’s never a bad idea to head to a dark, clear location like the Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout — although the light pollution coming from the city might make it a bit difficult — or, if you don’t mind a bit of a longer drive, Wild Horse Mountain, you’ll be able to catch some of them, as long as you let your eyes adjust to the darkness for at least 10-15 minutes. Find more tips here.