Catch the Orionids—a Trail of Debris from Halley’s Comet
By Graham Jones. Published 15-Oct-2024
Although 2024 is not an exceptional year for the Orionids, it is a big year for the comet that produces this particular meteor shower.
This photo of Halley’s Comet—the parent body of the Orionid meteor shower—was taken on its last visit in 1986. On December 9, 2023, the comet reached its farthest point from the Sun, and is now on its way back toward us.
©NASA/NSSDCA/W. Liller
Not the Best Year for the Orionids
The Orionids are a moderate meteor shower that peak around October 21 every year.
Why are they called the Orionids? It’s because the meteors—also known as shooting stars—appear to originate from a region of the sky within the constellation Orion.
Orionid meteor shower: interactive sky map
Around the peak date, at best, we can expect to see around 20 meteors per hour. Compare this to the more famous Geminid meteor shower in December, which can produce up to 150 meteors per hour.
In 2024, the visibility of the Orionids will be weakened by a bright Waning Gibbous Moon. (Alas, an almost Full Moon will interfere with this year’s Geminids, too.)
Still, even if you only see one Orionid meteor, you will be looking at something special: debris from one of the most famous astronomical objects in history.
A Bit of Human History
Meteor showers are produced when Earth passes through a trail of debris left behind by a comet or asteroid.
The parent body of the Orionids is the most celebrated comet of all: Halley’s Comet.
Halley’s Comet—also known to astronomers as 1P/Halley—is a periodic comet that sweeps by Earth once every 76 years or so.
Every visit of the comet since the year 240 BCE has been recorded by humans. However, it was not until 1705 that astronomer Edmond Halley proposed that comets observed in 1531, 1607, and 1682 were all the same object.
“Hence I dare venture to foretell,” Halley wrote, “that it will return again in the year 1758.” It did just that, and became known as Halley’s Comet.
A Big Year for Halley’s Comet
The last close approach to Earth by Halley’s Comet was in 1986.
In a way, 2024 is a big year for the comet: after traveling deep into the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, it is finally on its way back toward Earth and the Sun.
Halley’s Comet reached its farthest point from the Sun on December 9, 2023. Its next close approach to Earth will be in 2061.
Did you know? Halley’s Comet is also the parent body of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in May.