SAN ANGELO, TX — Stargazers in San Angelo will want to look up early Tuesday morning as the Orionid Meteor Shower reaches its peak just before dawn on Oct. 21.
The annual meteor shower, caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, has been active since early October. During the peak, skywatchers could see 10 to 20 meteors per hour streaking across the night sky.
The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, though they can be seen anywhere in the sky from both hemispheres. The peak coincides with the new moon, offering dark skies for ideal viewing conditions.
In San Angelo, mostly clear skies and temperatures around 70 degrees around midnight should make for comfortable viewing. Locals often gather at the Equalization Channel, but any dark area away from city lights will do. Observers should give their eyes time to adjust and look 45 to 90 degrees away from Orion for the best chance to spot the bright, fast-moving streaks.
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