Watch out: Annual Orionid meteor shower to hit its peak overnight tonight

Photo credits: NASA

Washington: Stargazers will be treated to some celestial fireworks tonight - the Orionid meteor shower.

According to NASA, the shower will reach its peak overnight tonight (Wednesday) October 21 and continue into the morning of Thursday, October 22.

The best time to view this dramatic phenomenon of Orionid meteors is just before sunrise on Thursday, October 22, when Earth encounters the densest part of Halley's debris stream.

Orionid meteors appear every year around this time, when Earth travels through an area of space littered with debris from Halley’s Comet.

The best part about this week's Orionids is that you don't even need a telescope to watch the celestial showpiece as it shoots across the sky.

NASA also says that while the meteor count may be lower this year, viewing conditions are favorable, as the gibbous moon will set by 2 a.m. EDT time, permitting good viewing just before dawn when rates will be at their highest.

Meanwhile, a live stream of the night sky from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will be available via Ustream beginning October 21, at 10 p.m. EDT.

The next meteor shower on deck is the Leonids, with the peak expected from midnight until dawn on November 18.

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