ST. LOUIS — The Orionids, one of the year's most beautiful and vivid meteor showers, will light up the sky this weekend in St. Louis.
Known for their brightness and speed, the Orionids reach their peak every year in mid-October, according to NASA. They appear when Earth travels through an area of space littered with debris from Halley's Comet. The meteors travel at about 148,000 mph into Earth's atmosphere and leave behind trails of light that can last for several seconds to minutes. Some meteors can even turn into fireballs.
The meteors are also framed by some of the brightest stars in the sky, according to NASA, which create a stunning backdrop for the shower.
When can I see the Orionid meteor shower?
According to NASA, the Orionids will reach their peak on Saturday, Oct. 21, with approximately 23 meteors zooming across the sky per hour in moonless skies. The meteor shower will be viewable in the hours after midnight and will last until dawn.
Where and how to watch Orionid
Clear skies this weekend in St. Louis make for perfect meteor-shower-watching conditions.
The best place to sit back and enjoy the show is in an area that's far away from city or street lights, according to NASA. You don't need a telescope or any special equipment to see the show. Simply lie on your back with your feet facing the southeast and take in as much of the sky as possible. In less than 30 minutes, your eyes will adjust to the darkness, and you'll begin to see fiery streaks in the sky.
Although the Orionids appear to come from the constellation Orion, you shouldn't look only toward the constellation to view the meteor shower, NASA said. It's better to view the Orionids 45 to 90 degrees away, where they will appear longer and more spectacular.
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