GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!
Fireballs from Halley’s Comet will soar across sky TONIGHT – how to spot Orionid meteor shower
FIREBALLS from Halley's Comet will light up the sky again tonight as the Orionid meteor shower began peaking yesterday during its yearly appearance.
The stunning show will see trailed meteors appear so bright in the night sky that they're visible to the naked eye...
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Orionid meteor shower 2019 – what are the Orionids?
Meteor showers are when chunks of debris from asteroids or comets soar across the sky.
In this case, Orionid meteors are made up of leftover material from Halley's Comet as it orbits the Sun.
The comet itself has a long 75-year orbit, but its remains are scattered along its route.
Every October or November, Earth passed through this field of debris.
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The chunks of space rock hit the atmosphere at huge speeds, and then burn up – creating a meteor shower.
They travel very quickly, reaching speeds of up to 41 miles per second as they soar across the night sky.
"The Orionid meteor shower is one of the best known and most reliable meteor showers in the annual calendar, visible from across the globe," said the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
"Some people view the shower as extra special as the meteors are actually pieces of Comet 1P/Halley, famously known as Halley's comet.
"The famous comet swings by the earth only once every 75 to 76 years but this annual shower provides some compensation for those who may miss that once in a lifetime event."
Orionid meteor shower dates 2019 – when is the Orionids peak?
Meteor showers are very predictable events, so astronomers know exactly when you have the best chance of seeing them.
This year's Orionids will be visible from October 16 right through to October 27.
But the best time to see them is at their peak intensity.
For 2019, the Orionid meteor shower peak is from October 21 to October 22.
So try looking out on Monday night, or very early on Tuesday morning.
You can expect to see as many as 25 meteors shooting across the sky every single hour.
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Orionid meteor shower visibility 2019 – can you see it without a telescope or binoculars?
It's possible to see the Orionids with the naked eye, because it's such an intense meteor shower.
But tall buildings, light pollution and bad weather can all hamper your chances of catching a glimpse.
We recommend heading out into the countryside on a clear night, far away from nearby light.
"They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark," the Royal Observatory Greenwich explained.
"The showers will continue at a reduced rate, so if the Moon obscures the peak, you may still be able to catch a few throughout the rest of October."
What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?
Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa...
- Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
- Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
- Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it'll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn't vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth's atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
- Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vapourising)
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How to spot Orionids 2019 – Orionid meteor shower viewing guide
The Orionids appear as though they're coming from the Orion constellation.
But you probably won't see them until they've moved away from Orion in a random direction.
So Orion won't help you spot the meteors, but you can trace meteors back to the constellation.
You can use an AR app like Night Sky on your smartphone to track down the constellation.
There's no best place to look, so just find a nice open area with a wide view of the sky.
Some of the Orionids will leave a small trail for a few seconds, which is helpful.
The best way to watch a meteor shower and spot shooting stars
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In other news, stargazers caught a glimpse of the Draconid meteor shower earlier this month.
An asteroid obliterated early human civilisations in a catastrophic collision with Earth 13,000 years ago, scientists claim.
And, scientists have put together a minute by minute timeline of what happened when the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs struck Earth.
Will you be stargazing this weekend? Let us know in the comments!
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