"The Orionid shower is made up of particles from Halley's Comet burning in the atmosphere as Earth's orbit intersects the comet's path, according to NASA. This year, NASA says the view of the meteor shower will be "spectacular." The Orionid shower gets its name the constellation Orion, which it appears alongside. For stargazers wondering where to look, Griffith Observatory says to keep your eyes on Orion's raised club."
"Despite lasting until late November, NASA says the peak viewing days will be Monday and Tuesday. This is thanks to the new moon, which cuts down on natural light - though unfortunately not L.A.'s widespread light pollution. The darker the skies, the more visible the meteors will be to the naked eye. Orionids are known to leave glowing trails that can last seconds or even minutes due to their astounding speed - 41 miles a second, according to the American Meteor Society."
"L.A.'s most iconic lookout spot, the Griffith Observatory, may seem like an obvious option. However, space is limited as the observatory announced its public lawn will be closed until late November. The viewing deck will remain open and the main observatory closes at 10 p.m. Malibu Creek State Park is a popular option with both isolated campgrounds for serious stargazers and upper parking lot for more casual viewing."
October features multiple astronomical events, including a recent supermoon and a dim meteor over Los Angeles, with the Orionid meteor shower arriving next week. The shower originates from Halley's Comet particles burning in Earth's atmosphere as the planet crosses the comet's orbit. Peak viewing will occur Monday and Tuesday, aided by a new moon that reduces natural light, though Los Angeles light pollution will limit visibility. The radiant appears near Orion's raised club, and meteors often leave glowing trails lasting seconds to minutes due to speeds of about 41 miles per second. Best visibility comes from dark locations such as Malibu Creek State Park, Topanga State Park, and select Templin Highway turnouts; Griffith Observatory viewing deck remains open while its public lawn is closed and the main observatory closes at 10 p.m.
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