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Orionid meteor shower
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Orionid meteor shower

astronomy
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Quick Summary

The Orionid meteor shower occurs annually in October, with its peak typically around October 21st. This celestial event is caused by Earth passing through the debris trail left behind by Halley's Comet. As these small particles, ranging from sand-grain to pebble size, enter Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up, creating the streaks of light we see as meteors. The Orionids are known for their medium visual strength and an entry velocity of about 66 km/sec. While the shower is named after the constellation Orion, from which its radiant appears to originate, it is directly linked to the orbit of Halley's Comet.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. Halley’s Comet
  2. meteor and meteoroid - Meteor showers
  3. meteor shower
  4. Perseid Meteor Shower: Top Questions

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