The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) invited Thais to monitor the skies on Saturday evening to witness the most spectacular meteor shower of the year.
Every October, Earth passes through a field of cometary dust called Orionids. The Orionids were formed in the wake of Halley’s Comet, which crosses the solar system every 76 years, and its last passage was in 1986, as should be remembered by those aged 45 years and over, many of whom at that time had the opportunity to observe it through the naked eye. Halley’s next pass is scheduled for mid-2061.
The Orionids take their name from the constellation Orion, because it is from this direction in the sky that meteors appear. This meteor shower is known for its brightness and speed of occurrence in the Earth’s atmosphere, reaching about 66 km/s. It is active from early October to early November, with its peak generally observed around October 21.
Under ideal conditions, an observer can expect to see between 10 and 20 bright meteors per hour during the peak.
On Saturday, Orionid meteors should be visible in the Thai sky from 10:30 p.m. until Sunday morning, according to a NARIT press release, which however emphasizes that the meteor shower will be most intense after 11:30 p.m., when He set the moon.
As with any phenomenon of this type, in order to observe orids in the best conditions, it is best to stay away from any light pollution. Under a clear sky.
As the rainy season comes to an end, Thais have a good chance not to miss this enchanting sight.
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