Plenty to see in the night sky early Wednesday

Photo: Pixabay

Skywatchers might be hoping the Full Moon isn’t too bright Wednesday morning.

That’s because it’s also the time when the Orionid meteor shower will be at its peak.

This year, the Orionids are expected to be at their most spectacular in the early morning hours of Oct. 20, 2021.

In both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, there could be up to 20 meteors per hour, but they will only be visible under ideal circumstances and away from the bright lights of the city.

The moon could throw a wrench in viewing plans because it’s also going to be at its brightest shortly before sunrise. The Hunter’s Moon is scheduled to arrive at 7:56 a.m. PDT.

The peak of the Orionids is set for around 2 a.m., so if you get up in the middle of the night, you might be able to see a lot of space rocks streaking by.

Even if you don’t see the display Wednesday, sightings of ‘shooting stars’ are still possible for several more weeks. The meteor shower continues until November 22.

The Orionid meteor shower is produced by Halley's Comet, which last visited the inner Solar System in 1986.