The best Halley’s Comet Meteor Shower has begun. Here’s when to watch it

The Orionids, the most prolific annual meteor shower caused by Halley’s Comet, have begun just as the giant snowball is on the verge of returning to the inner solar system.

The Orionid meteor shower runs from September 26 to November 22 in 2023, although the date to watch out for most is its peak in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, October 21. The maximum number of shooting stars per hour you can expect to see that night is 20, according to the American Meteor Society.

Meteor showers are caused by dust and debris left behind in the inner solar system by comets. When streams of material drift into Earth’s orbit around the Sun, a meteor shower can occur. Meteors are small pieces of rock or dust that burn up when they hit the Earth’s atmosphere.

Here’s everything else you need to know about the 2023 Orionid meteor shower:

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What Causes the Orionid Meteor Shower

For the Orionids as well as the Eta Aquariids in April, the main reason is the world’s most famous comet 1P Halley. It orbits the sun every 76 years or so, was last seen in 1986 and is due to go around the sun next in 2061.

That makes 2023 the halfway point Halley’s comet is on aphelionthe furthest it comes from the sun, beyond the orbit of Neptune. The actual date it starts to return is December 9, 2023.

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How to see the Orionid Meteor Shower

Given that a near first quarter moon will make the sky bright before midnight, the Orionids will be best viewed in the pre-dawn hours from a location away from light pollution. The moon will set in the early hours.

If you make the effort to see the Orionids, also remember to bring snacks, drinks, an easy chair and plenty of warm layers. You absolutely must avoid using binoculars, otherwise a telescope will greatly limit your view.

Don’t use your smartphone, the white light will kill your night vision and keep your eyes on the night sky (anywhere is fine because shooting stars can appear anywhere). Take lots of breaks.

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How to photograph the Orionid Meteor Shower

A great way to observe the Orionids is to set up a DSLR or mirrorless camera in your backyard and have it take hundreds of 30 second exposures. That way, it can catch a shooting star more easily.

You need a wide-angle lens and a tripod, with settings of approx. f/2.8 aperture and ISO 800 are recommended. With your camera at infinity focus, you can experiment with the settings in manual mode to create a great shot of the night sky. Then put it in continuous mode and let it take hundreds of pictures. Check them the next day for any pictures of shooting stars.

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After The Orionid Meteor Shower

Next to the Orionids is the Leonid meteor shower, which peaks in the early hours of November 18, 2023. Known for bright meteors with persistent trains, the Leonids also count up to 2o shooting stars per hour at their peak. This year, the Leonids will arguably be more interesting than the Orionids because the moon will be in a waxing crescent phase, meaning a dark sky after midnight.

However, there is also a chance of an eruption of the lesser-known Andromedid meteor shower in early December. In a week with a moonless night sky, up to 200 shooting stars per hour could seen at the top, according to research. It’s hard to know for sure, but the Andromedas did producing thousands of meteors per hour in 1872 and 1885.

Wishing you clear skies and big eyes.