SAEDNEWS: Fast and bright meteors will streak across the sky, leaving visible trails of light. Amid the heart of autumn nights, the sky will showcase one of the most spectacular cosmic phenomena: the Jabari Meteor Shower.
According to the Science and Technology Desk of Saed News, from 11 p.m. tonight until the early hours of Tuesday, the skies over Iran will be graced by the Orionid meteor shower—fast, bright meteors streaking across the night sky.
In the heart of autumn nights, the sky showcases one of the most mesmerizing cosmic phenomena: the Orionid meteor shower. These sudden streaks of light illuminate the darkness, reaching their peak tonight. The Orionids are among the most beautiful celestial events, originating from Halley’s Comet. Tiny particles shed from the comet enter Earth’s atmosphere as our planet crosses their path, traveling at nearly 66 kilometers per second (about 240,000 kilometers per hour). This incredible speed makes the Orionid meteors some of the fastest visible in the sky, often glowing white or bluish and leaving short but distinct light trails.
The particles forming the Orionid meteors are extremely small and lightweight, burning up at altitudes between 65 and 125 kilometers above Earth’s surface. As a result, Orionids appear lively, rapid, and bright, sometimes exhibiting greenish or bluish hues. Ali Ebrahimi Seraji, a member of the Amateur Committee of the Iranian Astronomy Association and head of the Mahani Observatory, explains: “The Orionid meteor shower is active from October 2 to November 7, typically peaking on October 21. This year, the main activity is expected from 11 p.m. Monday, October 20, until the early hours of Tuesday, October 21. Under ideal conditions, observers may see around 20 meteors per hour.”
Seraji notes that comets are responsible for creating these meteor swarms. Comets are small, icy bodies in the solar system composed of ice, dust, and tiny rocks. As they approach the Sun, solar heat causes the ice to vaporize, releasing dust particles that form a glowing tail visible from Earth. One of the most famous comets, Halley’s Comet, passes near Earth every 76 years, and the remaining particles from its tail are the source of the Orionid meteor shower. Seraji adds: “When Earth passes through these leftover particle streams, we witness the meteor shower. Halley’s Comet, the origin of the Orionids, strengthens the meteor stream each time it approaches, but we won’t see a significant increase in Orionids until the comet returns in about 36 years.”
Timing and location are crucial for observing the Orionids. Seraji advises moving away from city lights to dark, clear-sky areas, as these meteors are relatively faint. The radiant—the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to emerge—is located in the constellation Orion. “Orion rises around 10–11 p.m. and is visible in the night sky. Any meteor whose trail extends toward Orion is likely part of the Orionid shower,” Seraji explains.
While the Orionid meteor shower may not rival the grandeur of the Perseids or Geminids in numbers or spectacle, watching it beneath a star-filled sky offers a serene and enchanting experience. For night sky enthusiasts, it is a fleeting, magical moment not to be missed.
