The Orionid meteor shower will peak on the night of 21-22 October between midnight and dawn. in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes Greece.
As there will be a New Moon on October 25, the small moon will leave the sky fairly dark, allowing for good viewing if there are no clouds.
The Orionids are a moderately intense shower of shooting stars that appear each year from October 2nd to November 7th. The best times for observation are towards the East, shortly after midnight and before dawn.
Some people view the Orionids as extra special as the meteors are actually pieces of Comet 1P/Halley, famously known as Halley's comet. The comet swings by the earth only once every 75 - 76 years but this annual shower provides some compensation for those who may miss that once-in-a-lifetime event.
As the comet follows its path around the sun, it leaves a path of tiny debris. The cometary debris enters our planet’s atmosphere at speeds of around 41 miles per second, vaporising from friction with the air causing the streaks of light we call meteors.
They are so named because they appear to come from the constellation Orion, when in fact create the "tail" left behind by Halley's Comet. Dozens of meteors - usually around 20 per hour - enter and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.
Their "shooting stars" are fast and often move at high speeds of up to 67 kilometers per second, leaving strong trails in the sky.
How can I watch the Orionid meteor shower?
Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it's best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.
They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.
The showers will continue at a reduced rate for a few days either side of the Maximum, so if the Moon obscures the peak, you may still be able to catch a few throughout October.
Where is best to watch the Orionid meteor shower?
For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.
The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, so it’s good to be in a wide open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes.
But if you trace the paths that the meteors take, they seem to originate from the constellation of Orion.
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