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The Orionids – one of two major meteor showers caused by the remnants of Halley’s Comet – will peak with the arrival of the new moon, providing an excellent opportunity to see the shooting stars without the interference of moonlight.
During the Tuesday morning peak, expect to see 20 meteors per hour in ideal viewing conditions, said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum. St. Paul, minnesotaThe viewing will continue till November 7.
,Season “If allowed, it will be a great show,” LaCoursiere said.
Halley’s comet passed by Earth Every 75 years. Debris left by the comet causes two major meteor showers each year.
“Sometimes the Orionids leave trains, these bright long lines in the sky,” LaCoursiere said.
Here’s what you need to know about the Orionids and other meteor showers.
What is a meteor shower?
As the Earth orbits the Sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by comets and sometimes asteroids. The source of the Orionids is the debris of Halley’s Comet.
When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up.
Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail – the end of a “shooting star”.
You don’t need special equipment to see the meteor shower that brightens the sky every year, just one spot away from city lights.
how to see meteor shower
The best time to view a meteor shower is usually after midnight or before dawn, when there is usually less interference from moonlight.
Competing sources of light – such as artificial glare from the bright Moon or lights on the ground – are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights provide the best viewing opportunities when the moon is smallest.
And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to see shooting stars if you’re not looking at your phone.
When is the next meteor shower?
The next major meteor shower, the Southern Taurids, is expected to peak as early as November 5, when the moon will be full.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. AP is solely responsible for all content.