Halley’s Comet returns to the news cycle as stargazers chase Orionids and autumn meteor displays, bridging ancient mystery with modern skywatching.
Autumn has delivered a run of visible celestial events: a partial lunar eclipse in late August that reddened much of the Moon, close pairings of the young crescent Moon with Venus and Jupiter in September, and a string of upcoming spectacles — the Pleiades, the Orionid and Leonid meteor showers, a planetary parade on 14 November and a Beaver supermoon on 24 November.
The Orionids meteor shower has reached its peak tonight, with up to 20 meteors per hour expected under clear skies. The shower, caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, is visible across hemispheres through early November. Moonlight may wash out fainter meteors, but dark skies and patience will reward observers.