Halley’s Comet meteor shower peaks this weekend. How to get a view near Modesto
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If you’re in the right spot this weekend, you might be lucky enough to catch glowing streaks in the sky, as the famous Halley’s Comet brings a meteor shower.
Named the Orionid meteor shower, it is expected to peak this weekend, with the best viewing opportunities before dawn Saturday and after midnight Sunday, according to the Planetary Society.
“The Orionids usually produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour at a dark site,” the society said on its website. “Though the Moon will be 37% full, it sets around midnight, leaving dark skies and good viewing (weather permitting) for the rest of the night.”
Halley, named after English astronomer Edmond Halley, is the most notable comet because it is one of the first times astronomers learned that comets could repeatedly visit our night skies, according to NASA.
It previously breezed past Earth in 1986 and its next return will be in 2061.
What is a meteor shower?
Resembling a shooting star, meteors are space rocks and dust that enter the Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA. When they start falling, resistance causes the rock to be hot, creating a bright streak.
Showers happen when comets shed these rocks and debris.
How can I see the meteor shower?
According to the Planetary Society, the meteors will be in the area of the constellation Orion, which will rise in the east after midnight during October. This meteor show is active from Sept. 26 until Nov. 22.
“Meteors will streak out from this area in all directions,” the society said.
You should get away from city lights, it advised, let your eyes adjust to the darkness and look at the darkest part of the sky.
The forecast for this weekend
Some cloud cover is expected this weekend in Modesto, which can affect how visible the meteor shower will be.
The National Weather Service forecasts mostly clear skies Friday night and increasing clouds Saturday night. On Sunday night, it will be cloudy with a slight chance of showers.
If you’re planning to get out of the Central Valley for a better view, the forecast is similar in Tuolumne County. The Yosemite area is expected to see mostly clear skies Friday night while Saturday night will likely be mostly cloudy. Sunday night’s forecast calls for a chance of rain or snow.
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