Hundreds Of Fiery Meteors To Light Up The Colorado Sky This Week

It's a good week to stay up and look up at the sky -

A stunning meteor shower sending hundreds of meteors across the sky (& fireballs too) could be visible here in Colorado in just a few nights.

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About The Orionid Meteor Shower

The Orionids peak during mid-October annually and are considered to be among the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, every year.

According to NASA, Orionid meteors are known for their brightness and for their speed. So, just how fast can these meteors travel? very fast – Orionids travel at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere.

When it comes to meteors, with speed comes beauty: Fast meteors can leave glowing "trains" - aka blazing bits of debris in the wake of the meteor - which have the potential to last for several seconds to minutes. Not only that, but fast meteors can also sometimes become fireballs, NASA says.

When To Look For The Orionids

The meteor shower is expected to peak between the night of Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21; during this time, as much as 15 to 20 meteors are expected per hour.

Outside of the meteor shower's peak days, stray meteors will likely be spotted in the days leading up to and following the peak, NASA says.

The Best Way To View This Week's Meteor Shower In Colorado

This week's Orionids meteor shower can be best viewed by following these viewing tips, courtesy of NASA: 

• Find an unlit area (i.e; well away from streetlights, city settings)
• Come prepared - bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair to your meteor-watching destination 
• Lie flat on your back with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere
• Look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible; after about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors
• And remember, be patient – the show will last a few hours throughout the night 

In addition, NASA says to look for prolonged explosions of light when attempting to view the Orionids.

When To Watch For Meteors 

The best time to watch this week's vibrant meteor shower according to experts is between midnight and dawn. As long as the Colorado skies are clear, there's a very great chance these meteors will be visible without using any kind of special equipment.

However, even the slightest bit of pollution can block meteors out of casual sight.

The Cause Of The Orionid Meteor Shower?

The Orionid Meteor Shower is caused by debris from Halley's Comet, which NASA says takes about 76 years to orbit the Sun once. The last time comet Halley was seen by casual observers was back in 1986; it will reportedly not enter the inner solar system again until 2061.