Night Sky Spectacle: Meteors and Comets Light Up October

This week, sky gazers are in for a treat. The Orionid meteor shower is reaching its peak, and two comets are also making an appearance. This is a great chance to see some amazing celestial events. The Orionids are known for their speed. They zip across the sky, leaving bright trails. Some even leave behind gas trails that linger. While there might be a few bright fireballs, they are not the main feature of this shower. The best time to watch is from late evening until early morning. During the peak, you might see up to 20 meteors per hour. The shower will continue until late November, but the number of meteors will decrease. The Orionids come from the debris of Halley's Comet. As Earth passes through this debris, it burns up in our atmosphere, creating the meteor shower. With no moon to interfere, the skies will be dark, making it easier to see the meteors. In addition to the meteor shower, two comets are visible. Comet Lemmon and Comet SWAN can be seen about 90 minutes after sunset. Comet Lemmon is low in the northwest, near the Big Dipper. Comet SWAN is low in the south, below the star Altair. To see the comets, you might need binoculars. But if you are in a dark area, you might spot them with just your eyes. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the night sky. So, find a dark spot, look up, and enjoy the show.