The Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight, October 21 to 22, as tiny bits of Halley’s Comet burn up in our atmosphere.
How to see it
- Best time: the hours before dawn on October 22, after the waxing moon sets.
- Under dark skies you might see 10 to 20 an hour, but moonlight will hide the fainter ones.
- They seem to come from near Betelgeuse in Orion. Look 45 to 90 degrees away for longer streaks.
- Get away from city lights, give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes, bring a red light, and tell someone where you’re going.
- Halley itself comes back in 2061.
My take
Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Every streak is a little sermon. If you’re up early, step outside, look up and worship. The same God who set the comets on their paths knows your name, and He’s still speaking.
Have a blessed day! And Happy Hacking!