Orionid Meteor Shower 2016
An Orionid meteor recorded by the NASA All Sky Fireball Network station NASA

There is good news for stargazers! The annual Orionid meteor shower is already upon us and is set to peak this week.

The shower is active throughout October but will be most prolific from 20 October until 23 October between midnight and dawn. At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour.

The Orionid meteor shower originate from Halley's Comet, when Earth passes through the stream of ice and dust debris being shed by the comet. It is one of two meteor showers created by debris from Comet Halley, the other is the Eta Aquarids which happens in May.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Lada said: "The Orionids are one of the top five meteor showers of the year and will bring the best chance to see a shooting star since the Perseids meteor shower in August." 

"Occasionally, the Orionids produce fireballs, meteors that shine extremely bright for a few quick seconds before fading away," Lada said.

According to Spacedex, astronomy enthusiasts in Singapore have the best chance of seeing Orionid meteor shower over night of 20 October to morning of 21 October between 10:30pm - 05:00am (SGT).

How to Watch Orionids Meteor Shower 2016

  • To get the best view, people are advised to find an area away from city and street lights.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for overnight temperatures. Keep in mind that night time temperatures can be significantly colder than those in the day time, in some parts of the world.
  • Have something comfortable to sit on - a good reclining chair, sleeping bag or ground pad (experts suggest you lie flat on your back and look straight up).

It is also possible to watch the Orionids meteor shower live online via Slooh. The website will be hosting a live event beginning 20 October, 8:00 PM EDT.