Massive Meteor Shower In Sky Above Western New York
You might want to stay up late tonight or get up early tomorrow because you will have a chance to see something really cool in the skies above Western New York. We are near peak for the Orionid meteor shower in Western New York.
Orionid Meteor Shower Peak Days This Week
Early on Tuesday morning, my wife Elizabeth and I were out on our early morning walk around 3:30 am when I saw the brightest shooting star I have seen in years. It flashed across the sky and was so bright I thought it might have been a low-flying plane.
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Of course it only lasted 3-5 seconds, so I knew it wasn't a plane, but a meteor that is a part of the Orionid meteor shower. This week, the Orionid meteor shower will reach peak levels of meteors, and you could see anywhere between 10 and 20 shooting stars per hour.
According to Forbes.com, the Orionid Meteor Shower is part of Halley's Comet that swept through our galaxy back in 1986.
Key Facts To Know About The Orionid Meteor Shower
If you want to see some "shooting stars" this week, here are some key facts to know about the Orionid Meteor Shower.
- The Orionid meteor shower will peak overnight from Oct. 21st into October 22nd, producing around 10-20 “shooting stars” per hour.
- A bright moon will interfere with the peak, so the best time to look is the dark hours after moonset and before dawn on Oct. 22.
- “Shooting stars” from the Orionids can appear anywhere in the sky, but appear to radiate from the constellation Orion.
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Do you plan on getting up early or staying up late for a chance to see some shooting stars? Let me know HERE.
