Orionid meteor shower to dazzle US skies as it peaks later this week!

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

New Delhi: Sky gazers across the United States are in for a treat later this week, as the Orionids meteor shower is about to bless the skies.

The spectacular meteor shower is associated with Halley's Comet and is an annual occurrence, that takes place sometime around late October.

As per Skymet Weather, it's predicted that there will be meteor shower on the night of October 21 and will continue well into the morning of October 22. However, it might be difficult to view due to the cloud cover, and the shining moon, full bright.

The shower appears to emerge from the constellation Orion – one of the brightest groups of stars in the sky, which is why the name.

The constellation is home to Rigel and Betelgeuse, as well as Orion's belt which is made up of three bright stars in a straight line.

The best time to watch the shower is between midnight and dawn, when the sky is darkest and the best views will be offered by the Plains and Southwest United States. Dark areas in the countryside and parks away from city lights are best.

You'll be lucky if the meteor shower hits its peak, because that's when one can view around 25 shooting stars an hour, travelling at around 41 miles per second, leaving behind a long trail.