Be on the lookout for the Orionid meteor shower, which is predicted to peak the night of October 22, at a rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
Editor’s note: Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. If you are looking for a spectacular show this weekend, look up to find the Orionid meteor shower shining bright through Saturday and Sunday night. The shower is expected to peak at 8 p.m.
“What you’re seeing are little comet dust grains that are traveling really quickly,” King said. “When they enter the atmosphere, they get heated up and vaporize, and you get that bright streak — and that’s what we call a meteor.” The Orionids tend to be bright and fast-moving, 148,000 miles per hour , according to NASA. Because of this high speed, the Orionids often make long trails in the sky — visual evidence of the dust being released by the meteors as they are heated up, King said.
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