The Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak tonight, and it comes with a remarkable backstory: every streak you see is a piece of Halley’s Comet. The comet last passed through in 1986 and won’t return until 2061, but its trail of dust and ice crosses Earth’s path each October, lighting up the sky near the Orion constellation. Astronomer Edmond Halley predicted the comet’s 75-year return, and it has carried his name ever since.
Viewing is simple. Head out after midnight, around 1 a.m., and find a spot away from streetlights and moonlight. Give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust, then look toward Orion. Patient observers can expect 10 to 20 meteors per hour. Jessica Maxon-Berrier, director of museum learning at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, calls it magical — meteors from a comet that was seen a millennia ago.
No telescope, no ticket, no traffic. Just a lawn chair and a clear sky over the Gulf. If the clouds cooperate, it’s one of the best free shows of the year on the Suncoast. Will you be setting an alarm for 1 a.m.? Tell us in the comments — and if you snap a photo, share it with us.
