The second meteor shower of October, known as the Orionids, will peak on the night of October 21 and the early morning of October 22, according to observations in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Date and Time, during the peak of the Orionids meteor shower, observers can expect to see about 20 meteors per hour.
The Orionids are one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. Not only do they contribute to the phenomenon of a “double meteor shower,” but they also result from a familiar object sweeping its dust tail through Earth’s atmosphere for the second time this year.
Image of the Orionids meteor shower combined with a graphic depicting the constellation from which it originates – (Photo: STAR WALK).
The Orionids are named after the constellation from which the meteors appear to radiate: the Orion constellation, known as “Lạp Hộ” or “the Hunter” in Chinese.
To spot the fiery trails of the Orionids, you should look towards the arm raised as if drawing a bow in the constellation of the hunter in the night sky.
However, the true origin of this meteor shower is Halley’s Comet, an object with a 76-year orbit around the Sun.
Although we won’t see this comet return until 2061, its long dust tail crosses Earth’s orbit twice a year.
When this dust tail strikes our planet’s atmosphere, fragments fall and create meteors.
Back in May, Halley’s Comet produced the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, originating from the constellation Aquarius.
The Orionids are the second meteor shower to peak in October. It has been active since October 2, intensifying until the peak on October 21 and then gradually fading away, disappearing completely after November 7.
Therefore, the Orionids have been falling concurrently with the Draconids meteor shower from the Draco constellation, creating a double meteor shower phenomenon from October 6 to October 10.
To enjoy the Orionids, you should allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for about 15-20 minutes, find a spot with a clear view, and hope for good weather conditions.
