Avid stargazers can look forward to catching a dazzling celestial show when shooting stars streak across the Singapore sky for two nights next week.
The shooting stars – or more accurately a meteor shower called Orionid – will hit peak activity in Singapore skies between Oct 21 and Oct 22, said The Observatory at Science Centre Singapore in a statement on Oct 14.
The Orionids – so named because the meteors appear to emerge from a spot near the constellation Orion the hunter – are believed to be among the most impressive meteor shower displays visible to the naked eye.
The Observatory said: “The Orionids occur when Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
“As these fragments enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up in brilliant bursts of light that can last just a few seconds, creating the stunning meteor shower.”
The meteor showers occur annually between Oct 2 and Nov 7 and are best viewed between midnight and dawn. They tend to peak after 2am, when the Orion constellation is higher in the sky, the Observatory added.
Enthusiasts viewing the meteor shower can expect to see about 10 to 20 Orionids an hour, with a chance of spotting glowing fireballs from fast-moving meteors.
No special equipment is needed to view the meteor showers, which will appear across the entire sky.
Singapore’s light pollution and frequent cloud cover can also affect visibility of the meteor showers, added the Observatory.
That is why it is best to find dark, open areas – such as parks, beaches, reservoirs or fields away from city lights for the best viewing experience.
The Observatory said meteors are pieces of rock that travel into Earth’s atmosphere so fast that they heat up and create a glowing light as they burn.
“These appear as quick streaks of light moving across the sky, often lasting only a few seconds. People commonly call them shooting stars,” it added.
The Observatory said it will not hold special viewing events for the meteor shower, but its regular stargazing sessions on selected Fridays will continue, and telescope views of stars and planets will be on offer to the public.
More details on the sessions can be found at www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/workshops-activities/stargazing
Calista Wong for The Straits Times
Shooting stars will streak across Singapore skies for two nights in October
