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How to See the Orionid Meteor Shower and Other Upcoming Astronomical Events

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Made up of small fragments left behind by Halley’s Comet, these meteors are known for being especially bright and speedy.

Find a dark sky and you may see up to 20 meteors an hour. Photograph: icebergpicture/Getty Images

Halley’s COmet won’t be visible from Earth for another few decades but you can see fragments of it streak across the sky this month in the Orionid meteor shower. The event began earlier this month but will reach its peak on October 21 and 22. Here’s how to view these shooting stars and other upcoming astronomical phenomena.

Orionid Meteor Shower

The Orionid meteor shower will be ongoing until November 7, but in the US, the best time for viewing is between dusk on October 21 and dawn on October 22. During this time, you may see up to 20 meteors per hour. That’s in dark skies. The moon will be approximately three-quarters full at this time, which may obscure some of the shooting stars.…

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