The October Orionids meteor shower, usually shortened to “Orionids”, will be observed in the night skies starting October 17 to 25, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The Orionids are so-called because the point they appear to come from lies in the constellation Orion, but they can be seen over a large area of the sky. Orionids are an annual meteor shower which occurs and lasts approximately one week in late October.
Based on the astronomical diary of the weather bureau, the Orionids will be active from October 17 to 25 and the shower may reach 15 meteors per hour that might be observed under favorable sky conditions.
However, sometimes there are lulls or interval even during the traditional maximum peak nights on October 21 to 22.
“The Earth is passing through the stream of debris left behind by Comet Halley, the parent comet of the Orionid shower. The radiant of the shower will be observed north of Betelgeuse,” PAGASA stated.
According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) solar system exploration, the peak of Orionids are during the mid of October every year and considered as one of the most beautiful showers of the year.
It stated that Orionid meteors are known for their brightness and for their speed that could travel about 148,000 miles per hour (mph) or 66 kilometers per seconds into the Earth’s atmosphere.
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