Look up TONIGHT as Orionid meteor shower lights up Dartmoor with stunning display

The Orionid meteor shower, formed from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, is set to reach its peak on the night of Wednesday, 22 October, providing stargazers with a spectacular celestial display.

Research by Holgates into the UK’s darkest skies has revealed the best locations to view the phenomenon, with Dartmoor’s Princetown emerging as the prime spot for local watchers.

Total viewing hours are expected to peak between midnight and dawn, although the shower will remain visible for several days either side of this maximum.

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The Orionids are considered a special meteor shower, as the meteors are fragments of Comet 1P/Halley, which only passes near Earth once every 75–76 years. The annual shower offers a rare opportunity to witness the comet’s remnants streak across the sky.

Meteors occur when tiny pieces of cometary debris enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of around 41 miles per second.

The friction causes them to vaporise, producing the bright, fast streaks of light that can be seen from around the world. These events typically take place about 60 miles above the planet.

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For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the display tonight, research has found Princetown’s dark skies offer ideal conditions to experience one of the year’s most impressive astronomical events.

Insights sourced from Holgates. For more information on the best UK viewing spots, visit Holgates