Orionids meteor shower visible next week

MANILA, Philippines - The Orionids meteor showers will be visible in the country next week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

The meteor shower will be active from Oct. 17 to 25, PAGASA said.

“At maximum rates, the shower may reach 15 meteors per hour that may be observed at favorable sky condition,” the agency said in its monthly astronomical diary.

However, the weather bureau said there would be lulls even during the traditional maximum peak nights on Oct. 21 to 22.

“Unfortunately, a waning bright moon in the sky during the morning hours will wash out fainter meteors and diminish the impact of brighter meteors,” PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said Orionids are fast meteors.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the meteors come from the constellation of Orion.

“Orionids move very fast at a speed of 147,300 miles per hour. At such an enormous speed, the meteors don’t last long, burning up very high in the atmosphere,” NASA said.