The Orionid meteor shower peaks next week! Here's what to expect - Space

The Orionids peak around Oct. 21. Here's when and where to look for the best chance of spotting meteors.

FORT MCMURRAY — There is just one week to go until the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. Wood Buffalo skywatchers could see some of the fastest meteors of the year streaking across the predawn sky. The Orionids peak overnight Oct. 21 and 22 and can produce up to 20 meteors per hour under dark, favourable conditions. The shower is active from Oct. 2 through Nov. 7. The meteors are comprised of debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, which last passed by in 1986. As Earth passes through the comet’s debris stream each October, the particles strike the atmosphere at about 68 kilometres per second. Richard Covey, a an amateur astronomer, published astrophotographer and member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, says the Orionids are especially appealing because of their speed and their connection to one of astronomy’s best-known comets. “You’re literally watching tiny pieces of Halley’s Comet burn up in the atmosphere. They’re moving incredibly fast, so the Orionids can produce some very sharp, impressive streaks across the sky.”Moonlight will make this year’s peak more challenging. The Moon will be bright around Oct.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have revised a key piece of Oklahoma's geologic history, with possible implications for how scientists interpret major events in the history of life on Earth. Beneath the town of Ames, Oklahoma, lies a meteor impact structure that stretches for miles underground. Layers of sediment now cover the crater, but it remains significant both scientifically and economically. The Ames impact structure is also a major producer of oil and gas.

David Burnham, Kelly Dye, Rob O’Toole and Liz Wilkinson are four of the five candidates running for council in Sun Peaks. Photo by Justin Moore/SPIN With four council seats and five candidates on the ballot, Sun Peaks residents had the opportunity to hear from prospective councillors during an all-candidates forum ahead of the Oct. 17 general local election and advanced voting Oct. 7 and 10.