JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The annual Orionid meteor shower will return on the Oct. 21 and 22, which could offer a few opportunities to see some shooting stars.
This year’s event comes under new moon conditions, meaning skies will be especially dark — ideal for viewing faint meteors streaking across the sky. The Orionids are known for their fast, bright meteors, some leaving long-lasting trails that can glow for several seconds, and in rare cases, a few minutes.
The Orionid meteor shower originates from Halley’s Comet, one of the most well known comets. As Halley orbits the sun roughly every 75 years, it leaves behind a trail of dust and debris. Each October, Earth passes through this stream, and tiny bits of comet dust burn up in our atmosphere, creating the streaks we see as meteors…