Starwatch: Catch the Orionid meteor shower streak across the night sky

The annual Orionid meteor shower is reaching its peak this week, providing an opportunity for observers to witness fragments of Halley’s comet streaking across the night sky. Occurring every October, the shower happens as Earth passes through a stream of dust left behind by the famous comet. These tiny particles enter Earth's atmosphere at approximately 66 kilometers per second, heating the surrounding air and creating the ephemeral streaks of light known as meteors. Stargazers may anticipate seeing between 10 and 20 fragments per hour during this celestial event, which is a direct result of Earth's interaction with the comet's debris trail. This phenomenon offers a regular astronomical spectacle for those interested in observing natural space events.