When is the best time to see the Orionid meteor shower?

The best time to see the Orionid meteor shower is during its peak, on the night of October 21st into the early morning of October 22nd, 2025. The optimal viewing hours are after midnight and before dawn.

Where do the Orionid meteors come from?

The Orionids are created from debris left behind by Halley's Comet. When Earth passes through this debris trail, the particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating shooting stars.

Do I need a telescope to watch the meteor shower?

No, you do not need a telescope or binoculars. The best way to watch a meteor shower is with your naked eyes, as this gives you the widest possible view of the sky.

How many meteors can I expect to see?

During the peak, you can expect to see between 15 and 20 meteors per hour in a dark location with clear skies.

Does Earth really have two moons now?

Not exactly. NASA has confirmed a small asteroid, 2024 PT5, is acting as a quasi-satellite or temporary companion to Earth. It orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth due to gravity, making it appear like a second moon from our perspective. It's not permanently bound like our main Moon.

What is a quasi-satellite?

A quasi-satellite is an object (like an asteroid) that orbits the Sun but stays near a planet for a long time due to gravitational interactions. Its orbit is similar enough to the planet's that it appears to loop around the planet.

How long will this 'second moon' stay near Earth?

Asteroid 2024 PT5 is expected to remain a quasi-satellite of Earth until around the year 2083, after which its orbit will likely diverge.

Has Earth had temporary moons before?

Yes, Earth has captured smaller asteroids as temporary 'mini-moons' in the past, but they usually only stay in orbit for months or a few years. 2024 PT5's long duration as a quasi-satellite is more unusual.

Science

Want to See 20 Meteors an Hour? Here’s How and When to Watch

Published

5 days ago

October 20, 2025

Jhon Mathews

The Orionid meteor shower lights up the night sky with multiple shooting stars seen above a silhouetted tree.

Stargazers are in for a treat as the Orionid meteor shower, one of the most reliable and beautiful celestial displays of the year, reaches its peak tonight. If you’re hoping to catch a “shooting star,” tonight is your best chance to see this spectacular event, which is famous for its bright, fast-moving meteors.

The Orionid meteor shower is active throughout October, but the peak activity happens on the night of Tuesday, October 21st, into the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, October 22nd. During this window, viewers can expect to see approximately 15 to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.

What makes the Orionids special is their origin. These meteors are actually tiny fragments of dust and debris left behind by one of the most famous comets in history: Halley’s Comet. As Earth passes through this trail of cosmic dust, the particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating the brilliant streaks of light we see from the ground. For more amazing stories from the world of science and entertainment, check out our latest features.

How to Get the Best View

You don’t need any special equipment to enjoy the Orionids, but a little preparation can make a big difference.

Escape the City Lights: The most important factor is finding a location with as little light pollution as possible. A rural area, a large park, or a designated dark-sky site will offer the best views.
Give Your Eyes Time to Adjust: Step outside about 20-30 minutes before you plan to seriously watch. This allows your eyes to adapt to the darkness, making it easier to spot the fainter meteors.
Get Comfortable and Look Up: The best way to watch is to lie on a blanket or in a reclining chair. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Orion (hence the name “Orionids”), but they can streak across any part of the sky, so a wide-open view is best.
Be Patient: Meteor watching is a game of patience. Give yourself at least an hour to watch. The best viewing time is typically after midnight and before the first light of dawn.

Verified Outbound Link: For more in-depth information about this and other celestial events, visit NASA’s official science page.

Up Next

NASA Confirmed: Earth Has a Second ‘Moon’ – But Only Until 2083

Jhon Mathews

Jhon Mathews is a digital entrepreneur, content strategist, and editor at MagzineCelebs, where he covers trending news, celebrity stories, and entertainment insights. With a strong passion for SEO, storytelling, and multimedia content creation, he specializes in producing engaging articles, web stories, and social media campaigns that resonate with global audiences. When he’s not writing or optimizing content for Google Discover, Jhon Mathews explores creative design, ASMR video ideas, and new ways to grow traffic through Pinterest, YouTube, and innovative blogging tools. His mission is to make entertainment content informative, accessible, and impactful for readers worldwide.

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Science

NASA Confirmed: Earth Has a Second ‘Moon’ – But Only Until 2083

Published

3 days ago

October 22, 2025

Jhon Mathews

nasa-confirms-earth-second-moon-quasi-satellite-2083

WASHINGTON D.C. – In a captivating celestial development, NASA has confirmed the presence of a long-term companion orbiting Earth, effectively acting like a second, albeit temporary, moon. This small asteroid, designated 2024 PT5, is locked in a complex gravitational dance with our planet and is expected to remain a quasi-satellite until around 2083.

While not a moon in the traditional sense like our large, permanent satellite, 2024 PT5 is classified as a quasi-satellite or co-orbital companion. This means that although it orbits the Sun, its path is heavily influenced by Earth’s gravity, keeping it relatively close to us for an extended period. It follows an elliptical path that makes it appear to orbit Earth from our perspective, though it isn’t gravitationally bound to us in the same way our Moon is.

The discovery and tracking of objects like 2024 PT5 are part of NASA’s ongoing mission to identify and monitor Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Astronomers using sophisticated telescopes and orbital calculations confirmed the asteroid’s unusual path and its long-term stability as a temporary companion.

“Objects like 2024 PT5 are fascinating cosmic neighbours,” explained a planetary scientist. “They offer clues about the dynamics of our solar system. While it’s not a permanent ‘second moon,’ its decades-long presence in Earth’s vicinity is a remarkable phenomenon.” For more mind-bending science stories, explore our Science section.

Earth has captured temporary ‘mini-moons’ before – small asteroids briefly pulled into orbit – but 2024 PT5’s extended stay as a quasi-satellite is noteworthy. Its current trajectory keeps it nearby, looping around our planet in its journey around the Sun.

So, what happens after 2083? Orbital projections suggest that 2024 PT5’s path will eventually diverge, and its close relationship with Earth will end, sending it on a different course through the solar system. Until then, however, Earth technically enjoys the company of two celestial partners – one ancient and familiar, the other a fascinating, temporary visitor.

Verified Outbound Link: Learn more about Near-Earth Objects and NASA’s monitoring efforts at the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).