Russian institute says Orionid meteor shower peaks in the night of 22 October
In short
The Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences said the Orionid meteor shower will peak in the night of 22 October. Kommersant reported that it can be watched all night from 23:00 local time, and that Halley's comet will come close to Earth again only in 2061.
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The Orionid meteor shower will reach its peak intensity in the night of 22 October, the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences said. TASS attributed the date to the institute's Laboratory of Solar Astronomy, and RBC cited the press service of the institute's solar activity laboratory. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that the shower, formed by particles from the tail of Halley's comet, can be watched through the whole night starting from 23:00 local time. According to the outlet, the radiant is in the constellation Orion near the star Betelgeuse. It will appear in the eastern part of the sky at the start of the night, move to the southeast by the middle of the night and to the south closer to dawn. [ 3 ]
Citing IKI RAN, Kommersant wrote that the phenomenon will also be visible in cities, but because of city lighting the intervals between bright meteors may be 20-30 minutes. Under a dark sky, shooting stars will be visible every few minutes. The Big Dipper can serve as a guide: if the constellation is distinguishable, the meteor shower can be seen too. [ 3 ]
TASS and Kommersant both reported that the comet will approach Earth again only in 2061. TASS said this concerns the comet's nucleus, citing the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy, while Kommersant named it as Halley's comet. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The coverage is a routine science announcement with viewing advice for the public. The documents give no basis for wider consequences.
Key facts
- The Orionid meteor shower will reach peak intensity in the night of 22 October, according to IKI RAN. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The shower is formed by particles from the tail of Halley's comet, Kommersant reported. [ 3 ]
- Observation is possible all night, starting from 23:00 local time. [ 3 ]
- The radiant is in the constellation Orion near the star Betelgeuse. It appears in the east early in the night, moves to the southeast by the middle of the night and to the south towards dawn. [ 3 ]
- The comet will approach Earth again only in 2061; Kommersant names it as Halley's comet. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The shower will also be visible in cities, but with city lighting the intervals between bright meteors may be 20-30 minutes. Under a dark sky, meteors will be visible every few minutes. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the 23:00 start time for observation refers to the evening of 21 October. Kommersant gives 23:00 local time for the start of observation but does not state the date of that time.