An annual meteor spectacle is peaking this week as Earth sweeps through a trail of cosmic crumbs left behind by Halley's comet.

The Orionid, one of the two major meteor showers left by Halley, the most famous comet in the sky, will streak into Earth's atmosphere at around 148,000 mph this week, and it will be possible for viewers to spot 20 meteors per hour in peak viewing conditions. 

The celestial event, which occurs every October, is named after the constellation Orion and will be visible across the night sky without the need for any special equipment, according to NASA. Here's what to know ahead of the Orionids' 2026 appearance.

What is a meteor shower?

As Earth orbits the sun, it passes through trails of debris left behind by comets, and occasionally asteroids, several times a year. When these fast-moving specks of debris, mostly no bigg...