WASHINGTON — Want to see a show in the sky this weekend? Look up! The Orionid meteor shower will be visible starting Friday night and lasting through Monday morning.
The meteor shower is the result of a stream of debris left behind from the passing of Halley's Comet. The meteors are chunks of space rock that heat up quickly when they enter Earth's atmosphere. The light you see from the shooting stars is actually light from the superheated air as the meteors fly by.
While our skies will be clear for viewing the spectacle, the light from the moon and light pollution from densely populated areas may make it difficult to see. Your best bet for optimal viewing will be heading to the mountains or county away from city lights.
You'll have to stay up late or get up early, experts say the best time to see the meteor shower is after midnight and in the pre-dawn morning hours.