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Orionid meteor shower 2017 peaks TONIGHT! How to watch the shooting stars in the UK
DESCRIBED by Nasa as "one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year", the Orionid meteor shower is doubtless one of the celestial calendar's most impressive events.
Here's how you can set yourself up with the best chance of seeing falling Orionids - and what causes the shower.
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When is the Orionid meteor shower? When does it peak?
The Orionid meteor shower is an annual treat for stargazers, and one of the brightest showers in the celestial calendar.
This year, you'll be able to see Orionids between October 2 and November 7, but the shower is peaking between Friday, October 20 and Sunday, October 22.
The meteors will be the brightest and most visible this weekend, with the space rocks hurtling earthwards at speeds of up to 148,000 miles per hour.
During the shower's peak, you'll be able to see up to 20 meteors every hour, with the Orionid count peaking at 80 meteors per hour in previous years.
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Where is the best place in the UK to watch the Orionid meteor shower?
Falling Orionids will be visible to the naked eye from almost anywhere in the country, but the shooting stars will be much easier to see if you're away from town and city lights.
The best times to watch the shower will be just after midnight and just ahead of dawn, and you should aim to settle in a dark, rural viewing spot around 20 minutes before to let your eyes adjust.
Also, remember to wrap up warm before heading out to stargaze in the middle of the night.
And bear in mind that you won't need binoculars or telescopes, since they're only useful for stationary objects.
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What causes the Orionid meteor shower?
The Orionid shower occurs as the earth moves through a cloud of thousands and thousands of clumps of space rock.
Although the rocks are fragments of Halley's Comet, which itself is visible from earth once every 75 years, they look as if they are coming from the Orion constellation, hence the name.
These meteors burn up as they enter the earth's atmosphere, giving them their light.
The Met Office said: "The Orionids are a remnant of Comet Halley and at its peak you could see up to 20 shooting stars per hour.
"Orionid meteors are known to be very fast travelling at around 41 miles per second, and typically on the faint side, although with clear, dark skies you still have a good chance of spotting one with its persistent, long trail.
"The Orionid meteor shower is named as such because it appears to radiate from the constellation Orion, which is one of the most visible and recognisable in the sky throughout the world. "
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