File photo. Meteors of the Orionid meteor shower streak as they cross through the Milkyway in the mountainous area of Tannourine in northern Lebanon, on 3 October 2021. Photo: AFP
An astronomer says Sunday night will be the best time to catch a glimpse of the Orionid meteor shower lighting up the night sky.
The Orionid, which started on 2 October, is expected to last till 7 November.
Astronomer Ian Griffin said stargazers willing to venture outside at about 3am would get the best view.
"The best time to see the meteors is once the moon has gone down, so ... between 3am and sunrise."
As long as the skies were clear, anyone in the country could view it with the naked eye, he said.
Griffin said the shooting stars would be visible "every few minutes ... it should be a really good show".
The meteors are part of the famous Halley's comet, and when it approaches the sun it leaves behind a trail of dust, gas and ice debris.
The debris enters Earth's atmosphere at about 66km per second, burning up from friction with the air and causing streaks of light.
The comet only passes Earth every 75 to 76 years and the next sighting will not be until 2061, but the meteor shower is annual.
"This meteor shower holds a special place in the annual calendar of celestial events... if you missed already the "once-in-a-lifetime event" of Halley's Comet, don't worry, this annual Orionid meteor shower offers a unique opportunity providing some compensation," University of Warwick physicist Dr Minjae Kim told the BBC.
Meteor showers are named after the star constellation from where the meteors appear to come from. The Orionid shower comes from the direction of Orion.
- with additional reporting by BBC
