Watch for Orionids meteor shower

The country’s sky will light up with the Orionids meteor shower this month, a result of the earth passing through dust released by the Halley’s comet.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Orionids meteor shower will be active from October 17-25 but will reach its peak on October 21-22.

At maximum rates, PAGASA said the shower may reach 15 meteors per hour that may be observed at favorable sky condition.

However, there are times of lulls even during the traditional maximum peak nights.

The Orionids meteors are described as fast meteors and have fireballs.

According to PAGASA, the earth will be passing through the stream of debris left behind by the Halley’s comet, the parent comet of the Orionid shower.

The meteors are visible to the east in the evening and gradually to the west as the sun rises.

Likewise, this month, the square of Pegasus, an asterism of the constellation of Andromeda, takes center stage in the Philippine night sky after sunset, which is a sign of the arrival of the northern fall.

Northeast of it lies the Andromeda, which is the closest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.

Under clear skies and with the aid of a star map and familiarity with the surrounding background stars, PAGASA said it can be seen as an elongated misty patch with the naked eye and can be easily viewed through binoculars and telescopes.