The annual Orionids will be at their best. According to astronomical science experts, this year's meteor shower will usher in a maximum from the night of October 21 to the early morning of October 22, with a ZHR of 20, that is, the theoretical zenith flow per hour is 20.
The Orionid meteor shower taken by Wang Baoxun, an astrophotographer in Heilongjiang Province, at Jingpo Lake in Mudanjiang City on October 22, 2022 (multiple superimposed photos).
The parent comet of the Orionids is the famous Halley's Comet. Earth passes through the orbit of Halley's Comet twice a year, bringing two meteor showers, one in the Aquariids η early May and one in Orionids in mid-to-late October.
Xiu Lipeng, a member of the Chinese Astronomical Society and an expert in astronomy science, introduced that Halley's comet is the only short-period comet that can be seen directly from the Earth with the naked eye, orbiting the sun every 75 to 76 years, so it is not easy to see the "true appearance" of Halley's comet.
Liu Chengshan, an astrophotographer in Heilongjiang Province, photographed the Orionid meteor shower in Heilongjiang Jinlongshan National Forest Park on October 21, 2021 (multiple superimposed photos).
Among the many meteor showers every year, the Orionids are not large or small in terms of flow, which is considered a moderate flow meteor shower. Its radiant is located between Orion and Gemini, rising from the eastern horizon after 10 p.m., gradually rising in the middle of the night, and reaching its highest altitude just south before dawn. Therefore, the Orionids are suitable for observation in the second half of the night. Observations in the past two years have shown that the number of meteors in the Orionids is relatively stable.
During this year's maximum, the moon phase is close to the first quarter of the moon, and the moon sets in the middle of the night, which has little effect on observations. Overall, the observation conditions of this year's Orionid meteor shower are good, and enthusiasts who like meteor showers can look forward to it.
The Orionid meteor shower taken by Liu Chengshan, an astrophotographer in Heilongjiang Province, in Daqing City on October 21, 2020 (multiple superimposed photos).
Xiu Lipeng said that the active period of the Orion meteor shower is very long, starting from October 2 to November 7 every year, and meteors belonging to this meteor group may appear in more than a month, so the observation of this year's Orion meteor shower is not necessarily limited to the night of the 21st to the early morning of the 22nd, and the weather can be observed in a few days before and after.
In addition to the Orionid meteor shower, the δ Aurigaid meteor shower, the southern Taurids meteor shower, and the Leonid meteor shower will also peak in October.
The Orionid meteor shower taken by Liu Chengshan, an astrophotographer in Heilongjiang Province, in Daqing City on October 22, 2022 (multiple superimposed photos).
"These meteor showers, despite their modest flow, are rich in color, making it much more likely for people to see meteors." Xiu Lipeng said, "If the weather is good, interested members of the public can choose a place with less light damage and good vision for visual observation in the days before and after the 21st, as long as they wait patiently, they will see the meteor flashing by." ”