The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) invites Thais to watch the sky on Saturday evening to witness the most spectacular meteor shower of the year.
Every October, Earth passes through a field of comet dust called the Orionids. The Orionids arose in the wake of Halley’s Comet, which crosses the solar system every 76 years and whose last passage was in 1986, as people aged 45 and over must remember, many of whom then had the opportunity to observe it with the naked eye . Halley’s next passage is scheduled for mid-2061.
The Orionids get their name from the constellation Orion, as this is the direction from which shooting stars appear to come. This meteor shower is known for its brightness and the speed at which it occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere, which is approximately 66 km/s. It is active from early October to early November, with its peak generally observed around October 21.
Under ideal conditions, an observer can expect to see between 10 and 20 bright meteors per hour during the peak.
On Saturday, the Orionids are expected to be visible in the Thai sky from 10:30 p.m. until Sunday morning, NARIT’s press release says, but emphasizes that the shooting star shower will be more intense after 11:30 p.m., when the moon has been set .
To observe the Orionids in the best conditions, as with any phenomenon of this kind, it is preferable to stay away from any light pollution. And under a clear sky.
With the rainy season coming to an end, Thais have a good chance of not missing out on this enchanting spectacle.