Kuwait to witness Meteor shower on Friday

Kuwait will witness Orionid meteor shower caused by Halley’s Comet and it will be most active on Friday - once the Earth passes through Halley’s dusty belt.

In a press statement, Director of the Astronomy and Space Sciences Department Badar Hamoud Al-Omaira disclosed the phenomenon happens annually between Oct 2 and Nov 7 whereas the Orionid meteor shower becomes active from Oct 16-27, and is most active on Oct 21 every year. He said the average meteors that can be spotted per hour are 23.

He confirmed it is possible to watch the Orionid meteor shower, especially in the north of Orion constellation launching from Alpha Orionis and the radiance of the moon will be 66 percent.

He added the Orionid meteor is linked with the comets and while the Earth is orbiting the Sun, it could pass through the dusty belt of one of the comets and because of gravity, the dusty particles enter the Earth crust causing meteor sparks.