The annual Orionid meteor shower painted streaks of light across autumn skies this week, captivating stargazers from Tokyo to Tehran. Peaking between October 21-22, the celestial display saw up to 25 meteors per hour visible under optimal conditions, according to NASA and the American Meteor Society.
Observers in rural areas of Japan, India, and Central Asia reported particularly vibrant shows, with fast-moving meteors appearing to radiate from the Orion-Gemini constellation border. "These are some of the fastest meteors we see," a NASA spokesperson noted, explaining their 148,000 mph speed creates dramatic trails.
While urban light pollution limited visibility in major cities like Shanghai and Seoul, astronomy clubs organized viewing trips to mountainous regions. The shower remains active through November 7, offering late-night photographers new opportunities to capture the phenomenon.
