There’s more to look forward to in October than just Halloween. That’s especially true this year, when Halloween celebrations might be a bit underwhelming. The Orionid meteor shower lights up the sky every October, with around 15 shooting stars streaking through the night each hour at its peak — although up to 70 per hour have been recorded during the shower’s strongest years.
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The Orionid Meteor Shower Will Light Up the October Sky
The Orionid stars are extremely fast, moving at a speed of 41 miles per second, and leave behind a trail that stays in the sky for up to a minute. The shower is set to occur between October 2 and November 7, and will peak on October 21-22. After midnight on October 21 is your best chance to see the cosmic material from Halley’s Comet, though the nights before and after should also be great stargazing times.
To view the shower, get as far away from light pollution as possible, and go out 20 minutes early to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. Then, look up at the Betelgeuse star in the Orion constellation. The shower will be brightest between midnight and dawn — particularly just before dawn. 