Unleashing the Celestial Spectacle: Witness the Mesmerizing Orionid Meteor Shower This Weekend

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter to delve into the universe and stay updated on intriguing discoveries, scientific progress, and more. And if you seek a breathtaking spectacle, cast your gaze towards the Orionid meteor shower illuminating the night sky this weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday.

The meteor shower is projected to reach its peak at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. However, throughout the entire weekend, people can witness visible meteors blazing across the sky at a frequency of 10 to 20 per hour, as reported by EarthSky. These meteors can be observed from any location around the globe during the nighttime.

Locals and travelers from all over the world congregate on Menan Butte in Menan, Idaho to witness the eclipse on August 21, 2017. The event attracts millions of people to areas in the U.S. that fall within the "path of totality," aiming to have an unforgettable experience of a total solar eclipse.

Spectacular celestial events are occurring directly above you. Here's why you might have missed them.

The optimal time to observe a meteor is during the early morning hours when the radiant, the point from which meteors seem to originate, is at its peak. In this particular case, the radiant is located in the constellation Orionis and reaches its highest point at approximately 2 a.m. in any given time zone. However, Dr. Ashley King, a planetary science researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, notes that meteors can start appearing as soon as darkness falls.

The American Meteor Society states that this weekend, the moon will be in its first quarter phase and will set close to midnight. This may cause a slight interference in meteor visibility due to its luminosity, explains King.

According to him, it would be best to wait for the moon to set before observing the meteors. He advises that even in a city, one should still be able to see a few meteors by simply looking at the sky and being patient.

To increase your likelihood of observing a meteor, King advises stepping outdoors approximately 10 to 20 minutes prior to stargazing, allowing your eyes to acclimate to the dim lighting. If feasible, King recommends moving away from areas with excessive light pollution in order to locate a vantage point offering an unobscured view of the night sky.

Dust particles originating from Comet Halley.

The Orionid meteors originate from the renowned Halley comet, which is currently positioned at the midpoint of its 76-year orbit around the sun. Although the comet will not be visible in Earth's night sky until 2061, it leaves a residue of debris in its wake which our planet traverses annually, giving rise to the Orionids.

During early May, Earth encounters a distinct segment of Halley's orbit trail, resulting in the occurrence of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.

"What you're witnessing are tiny particles of dust from comets zooming through space at incredible speeds," explained King. "As these particles plunge into the Earth's atmosphere, they become intensely heated and instantly vaporize, creating the luminous streak in the sky known as a meteor."

On October 14, 2023, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an Annual Solar Eclipse took place. The moon passed in front of the sun, creating a "ring of fire" effect as it was not large enough to cover the sun completely. The event was captured in a photograph by Sam Wasson/Getty Images.

The Orionids typically exhibit brightness and swift movement, traveling at a speed of 148,000 miles per hour (238,183 kilometers per hour), as stated by NASA. This rapid pace often results in lengthy streaks across the sky, serving as visible proof of the meteors' dust release caused by their heating, explained King.

There can be unpredictable surges in meteor rates during meteor showers. According to the American Meteor Society, the Orionids witnessed a range of 50 to 75 meteors per hour from 2006 to 2009. While this year is expected to have normal rates, there is always a chance of a surprise, as stated on the organization's website.

"Not only are they visually stunning, with bright streaks across the sky, but it's also a rare occurrence," King expressed. "These meteors are composed of dust grains that originated more than 4.6 billion years ago during the formation of the solar system."

Following the peak of the Orionids, the number of meteors visible per hour will gradually decrease until the shower concludes on November 22. In the event that you are unable to witness the peak this weekend, there are still five additional meteor showers remaining for you to observe throughout the year.

● Southern Taurids: November 5-6

● Northern Taurids: November 11-12

● Leonids: November 17-18

● Geminids: December 13-14

● Ursids: December 21-22

Full moons

There are three full moons remaining in 2023, according to the Farmers Almanac:

● October 28: Hunters moon

● November 27: Beaver moon

● December 26: Cold moon

Astronomy enthusiasts in North, Central, and South America had the opportunity to witness a magnificent annular solar eclipse on October 14. This rare celestial event occurred when the moon aligned perfectly between the Earth and the sun, forming a stunning "ring of fire" in the sky. Remarkably, this was the final solar eclipse of its kind until the year 2024.

There will be a partial lunar eclipse on October 28, which can be observed in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America, and a large portion of South Africa. During this eclipse, a section of the moon will enter Earth's shadow, resulting in the shadow being visible on the moon for a brief duration.