Orionid Meteor Shower to Peak Friday Morning: A Celestial Spectacle Awaits Stargazers are in for a treat this week as the Orionid meteor shower is set to reach its peak on Friday morning.

This annual celestial event, caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by the famous Halley's Comet, promises a display of shooting stars streaking across the night sky.

While the shower technically runs from September 26th to November 22nd, the peak viewing will occur in the pre-dawn hours of Friday.

Observers can expect to see anywhere from 10 to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.

These meteors, known for their speed and occasional bright fireballs, will appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, hence the shower's name.

However, meteors can be seen across a wide area of the sky.

To maximize your viewing experience, find a location away from city lights, allowing your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness (this can take up to 30 minutes).

Lie down on a blanket or reclining chair and gaze upward, taking in as much of the sky as possible.

No special equipment is needed – binoculars or telescopes will actually restrict your field of view.

While the moon will be a waning crescent, its light shouldn't significantly interfere with viewing this year.

The best time to watch will be between midnight and dawn on Friday.

However, the hours leading up to the peak could also offer a good show.

Don't be discouraged if you don't see dozens of meteors immediately.

The shower's activity can fluctuate, and patience is key.

Simply relax, enjoy the night sky, and let the celestial display unfold.

This year's Orionids offer a fantastic opportunity to connect with the cosmos and witness a breathtaking natural phenomenon.

Sky gazers could get quite the treat in the early morning hours Friday, when the Orionid meteor shower is expected to peak, sending streaks of light across the dark skies.

The Orionids, considered "one of the most beautiful showers of the year," according to , are active this year from Sept. 26 through Nov. 22. They will be most viewable Friday morning because the moon will be a slim crescent, EarthSky.org.  

The Orionids travel at 148,000 mph and, because of their speed, can sometimes become fireballs when they enter Earth's atmosphere, NASA said, telling viewers to "look for prolonged explosions of light." With no moon in the night sky, at the Orionids peak, about 15 meteors per hour can be seen.

The Orionids are viewable from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but are best seen by getting away from city and street lights, according to NASA. They are most viewable in the hours after midnight.  

NASA advises that you "lie flat on your back with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere." You should also be patient, and give your eyes time to adjust to the dark. 

Orionid meteors are leftover comet particles and pieces of broken asteroids which originate from the comet 1P/Halley, NASA explained. Halley orbits the sun once every 76 years, and was last seen from Earth in 1986. The next time it enters the inner solar system will be in 2061.  

The meteors get their name from the Orion constellation, named because that is "the point in the sky from which the Orionids appear to come," NASA said.