Vietnam is about to observe the peak of the Orionids meteor shower

Astronomers in Vietnam can observe the rain of Orionids reaching the peak on the night of 20, dawn on October 21.

Mr. Dang Vu Tuan Son, Chairman of Vietnam Young Astronomical Association, said that about 12pm on October 20, the Orion constellation will appear fully in the eastern sky and observers can clearly see this constellation if has a clear view to the east.

In case the viewing angle is not wide enough, people can observe the meteor shower at midnight to 1am on October 21. At about 3:30 am, the constellation will be highest and then continue to move west.

Picture 1 of Vietnam is about to observe the peak of the Orionids meteor shower
Orionids meteor shower when peaked in 2014. (Photo: Creative Commons).

On the night of the climax, the constellation Orionids can reach 20 to 30 meteors every hour for observers from the ground.

However, on the night of the supernova this year, the Moon is very close to the constellation, so the number of meteors seen will be reduced, from 10-15 stars / hour and can be reduced further in those Air pollution.

This phenomenon is visible to the naked eye everywhere in the world, including Vietnam. Mr. Son said to observe the meteor shower does not need any special tools. However, viewers should pay attention to health and safety when outdoors at night.

Picture 2 of Vietnam is about to observe the peak of the Orionids meteor shower
Orion's constellation shape, in the middle are 3 nearly straight stars forming part of the constellation waist.(Photo: Amsmeteors.com).

According to Earthsky.com, meteors are not really "stars" . More precisely, supernovae are objects in space that are ignited in the earth's atmosphere.

Orionids meteor shower consists of burnt particles of Halley Comet. As the Earth moves around the sun in its orbit and passes through the dust left behind by Comet Halley, these particles ignite in the earth's atmosphere, forming meteor shower falling.

Each year, Earth's orbits intersect with Halley's Comet trajectory twice, once in May, creating the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, and once in October, forming meteor shower Orionids.