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Next week, the Orionids peak around 21-22 October. A meteor shower, visible from both hemispheres. Dust from Halley's Comet The Orionids are debris shed by comet 1P/Halley. Each October, Earth passes through the trail it left behind. Fast The grains hit the upper atmosphere at about 66 km a second (41 miles a second) and burn up as streaks of light. This year, a bright Moon The Moon is waxing toward full on 26 October and washes out the faint ones. The darkest sky is before dawn, after moonset. An old visitor Halley's Comet returns about every 76 years. In 1066 it was seen in England and thought to be an omen; the Bayeux Tapestry's caption calls it a star. Look up Next return of Halley's Comet: 2061.
Short video: The Orionid Meteors Are Crumbs of Halley's Comet