Stargazers are set to enjoy one of the highlights of the celestial calendar over the coming weeks as the annual Orionid meteor shower lights up the night sky.
It will begin on Friday evening before building up to its peak on October 21, producing up to 20 or so meteors every hour, and eventually concluding on November 7.
The phenomenon — which takes its name from the Orion constellation, one of the brightest groups of stars in the sky — occurs every year in October and November and is precipitated by the Earth passing through the debris in the tail of Halley’s Comet.
Meteoroids from Halley’s Comet strike the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 148,000mph, burning up in streaking flashes of light and producing the celestial display.
Visible in both the northern and southern hemispheres, the event marks the second annual intersection between the Earth and Halley’s comet, with the other responsible for the yearly Eta Aquarids meteor shower.
According to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, stargazers will be able to see the meteor display with the "naked eye".
"There's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark," the observatory said in an explanatory note.
"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," it added.
US space agency NASA meanwhile urged those watching the night skies to "look for prolonged explosions of light when viewing the Orionid meteor shower", explaining that "fast meteors can also sometimes become fireballs".
“The best time to look for these meteors would be after midnight but before the sky begins to lighten with the dawn," Nasa wrote in a blog post.
"Ideal conditions would be clear skies with no haze or clouds, a clear view of a large part of the sky after midnight, and a location far from any lights or urban light pollution."
The US space agency also advised skywatchers to allow their eyes up to 30 minutes to adapt to the dark while looking out for meteors.
"Be patient - the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse," it said.
