Orionid Meteor Shower Visible in the UAE TONIGHT!

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Orionid Meteor Shower Visible in the UAE TONIGHT!

Published: Fri 21 Oct 2016, 11:59 AM

Last updated: Sat 22 Oct 2016, 1:46 AM

Stop whatever you had planned for the weekend! A majestic meteor shower is expected in the UAE from tonight until 5:00 am on Saturday.
The Orionids meteor shower is one of the two meteor showers created from the residues of Halley's Comet. The other half - the Eta Aquarids is expected in May.
As with every meteor shower, light pollution is always a factor and the best places to view the Orionids will be outside the city centre. Locations such as Jebel Jais and Al Qudra are some of the more preferable locations since they are far from any light interference caused by city lights.
A telescope is not required to witness the meteor shower; however they are only visible in clear and dark conditions. According to a report by The Telegraph, "Orionids are known to be very fast, travelling at about 41 miles per second, and typically on the faint side, although with clear, dark skies you still have a good chance of spotting one with its persistent, long trail."
The Orionids Meteor Shower is thus named because they appear to radiate from the constellation of Orion, one of the most commonly known constellations and one of the brightest stars in our sky.
Enthusiasts in the UAE are advised to check weather conditions in advance, get out of town from light pollution as well as prepare to wait for the stars to arrive.

By Web team

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