The Orionids – what they are and where to see them

Tonight (21st-22nd October) is the height of the Orionids: a cosmic light show caused by the earth rocketing through the icy debris trail of Halley’s Comet.

The Orionids are fast-moving meteors – shooting through the sky at about 41 miles (66km) per second.

While Halley’s Comet is a once-in-a-lifetime event, with the next sighting due in 2061, it is the parent of two annual showers; the Eta Aquariids in May and the Orionids in October.

The Orionids get their name from their radiant – the point they appear to come from – the constellation of Orion.

During tonight’s peak, there’s no moonlight to interfere with your viewing experience, and Winchester is getting a break from the rain for a few hours; so the meteors should be easy to catch if you find the right spot.

It’s still important to find a space away from urban light pollution, such as St Catherine’s Hill or South Downs National Park, which is one of darksky.org‘s International Dark Sky Reserves.

The meteor shower will last until the 7th of November – but fret not, there are five more showers this year, including the Geminids, which peak on the 14th December with a possible hourly rate of 120 shooting stars.