The Orionids are coming. How to see 'the most beautiful' meteors over Arizona
Coming soon: It's almost time to see one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, as described by NASA.
The Orionid meteor shower is an annual display known for producing fast and bright meteors that typically peak in late October. And we have Halley's Comet to thank for it: Debris from the comet's orbit around the sun creates the Orionids.
During the shower's peak, observers can expect to see 10 to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions as dust and debris particles from Halley's Comet enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up in bright streaks of light.
Here is everything thing to know about the 2023 Orionid meteor shower, including the best times and places to see it in Arizona.
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What is the Orionid meteor shower?
The Orionid meteor shower occurs because Halley's Comet sheds debris particles into the atmosphere.
“The Orionid meteor shower is the increase each October of the so-called 'shooting stars' visible in the night sky appearing to originate in the spot in the sky near the Orion constellation,” said Rhonda Stroud, director of the Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies and professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.
“The shooting stars are dust grains, also called micrometeoroids, left behind by Comet Halley that burn up in our atmosphere,” Stroud said.
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How long do the Orionids last?
Stroud said the Orionid meteor shower lasts for about two months, from late September until late November. The peak is expected to be Oct. 20-22, 2023.
“The peak visibility depends on how much moonlight there is, the amount of Comet Halley dust entering our atmosphere and how cloudy it is in your viewing spot,” Stroud said. “The night of Oct. 20 through the morning of Oct. 21, the moon will only be 37% full and sets at 10:19 pm, so this should be the best unless it is cloudy. The day before or after should also offer good viewing.”
The exact duration and intensity of the Orionids can vary from year to year, and factors like moonlight and light pollution affect visibility. For optimal viewing, find a dark, clear location away from city lights and go on peak viewing nights.
However, the Orionid meteor shower can be active for a week or so on either side of its peak. This means that you can likely see Orionid meteors in the nights leading up to the peak and in the nights following it, though the meteor rate may be lower, according to Earth Sky.com.
When can I see the 2023 Orionid meteor shower in Phoenix?
The best time to see the Orionids meteor shower in Arizona, or anywhere else for that matter, is typically after midnight and in the predawn hours.
“The shower will be visible between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.,” Stroud said.
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Where is the best place to see the Orionid meteor shower in Arizona?
“There are lots of good places in Arizona and around Phoenix to view the Orionids,” Stroud said. “Anyplace with a good clear view of the sky away from bright lights will work. We are lucky to have four designated Dark Sky Cities in Arizona, including Fountain Hills, just outside Phoenix.”
Other Dark Sky Cities in Arizona are Flagstaff, Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek.
What is the next meteor shower in 2023?
Upcoming meteor showers to keep an eye out for are:
Southern Taurids: Sept. 28-Dec. 2.
Northern Taurids: Oct. 13-Dec. 2.
Leonids: Nov. 3-Dec. 2.
Geminids: Nov. 19-Dec. 24.
For more information on all of the meteor showers, go to the American Meteor Society’s calendar.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Orionid meteor shower 2023: Here's when and where to see it
