Meteor shower tonight
 |
| Meteor shower tonight |
The Orionid meteor shower is active from September 26 to November 22, with its peak activity occurring on the night of October 21-22 in 2023. The Orionids are visible to sky watchers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
To see the Orionids, find a dark location away from city lights. Lie down on a blanket or chair and look up at the sky. The meteors will appear to radiate from a point near the upraised club of the constellation Orion the Hunter. The bright star near the radiant point is the reddish Betelgeuse.
The best time to watch the Orionids is after midnight and in the wee hours before dawn. This is when the radiant point is highest in the sky and the meteors are most visible.
The Orionids are typically a moderate meteor shower, producing 10 to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. However, under good conditions, skywatchers have seen up to 50 meteors per hour.
The 2023 Orionid meteor shower will coincide with a first quarter moon. This means that the moon will be setting around midnight and will not interfere with the meteor shower.
Here are some tips for watching the Orionid meteor shower:
- Find a dark location away from city lights.
- Lie down on a blanket or chair and look up at the sky.
- Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. It may take up to 30 minutes for your pupils to fully dilate.
- Be patient. It may take some time to see a meteor.
- If you see a meteor, try to trace its path across the sky.
- If you have a camera, try to take a picture of the meteor shower.
I hope you enjoy the Orionid meteor shower!