Orionids Meteor Shower
In short
The Orionids is an annual meteor shower caused by debris from Halley's Comet. It peaks in late October, with visible meteors appearing to originate from the constellation Orion.
In plain words
Every year in late October, tiny bits of dust from a famous comet hit Earth's atmosphere. This creates bright streaks of light in the night sky. You can see many of these shooting stars if you look up on a clear night.
A simple example
If you sit in a dark garden on a clear October night, you might see dozens of bright flashes streaking across the sky every hour.
Why it matters
It provides a spectacular natural light show that is free for anyone to watch. It also helps scientists study the composition of Halley's Comet through its leftover dust.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this with the Eta Aquariids, which is the other major meteor shower caused by the same comet.