Watching the night sky, changes every season and sometimes every minute when it comes to meteor showers.
The Salina Astronomy Club is meeting this Friday on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University to unpack what’s happening above the horizon. Jeffrey Kasoff with the Salina Astronomy Club tells Ad Astra News that this batch of space dust and debris is traveling very fast.
The Orionid meteor shower comes from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. Each October, Earth crosses this path, and the tiny particles from the comet hit our atmosphere at high speed. This high speed is why Orionid meteors often appear bright and sometimes leave glowing trails that last for several seconds.
Kasoff explained bigger pieces create more friction. When a larger piece of debris enters the atmosphere, it creates a more dramatic burst of light. These fireballs can be brighter than Venus and often stand out from the smaller meteors.
Watching the Orionids can be both relaxing and exciting. If you live in the city, consider driving out to a darker area. Bring a friend or family member and turn it into a shared experience.
Summary of Meteor Terminology
• Meteoroid – object in space, typically mm–m in size.
• Meteor – the luminous streak seen as it burns in the atmosphere.
• Meteorite – any fragment that survives to reach the ground.
SAC SkyWatch on Friday, 9 – Oct – 2026
Dorothy Hanna, President, Salina Astronomy Club, will give a talk titled ‘Fall Constellations’. Come and learn about the constellations visible in the Fall skies. Many constellations are named after figures, creatures, and objects from ancient Greek and Roman mythology; such as Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Hercules, Pegasus, Andromeda, and Cygnus.
Location: Rm 229, Peters Science Hall, KWU, 4th & Cloud and the KWU Observatory on the 5th Floor.
Times: Talk and Q&A from 7:30 to 8:30 pm; Light Refreshments after talk.
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/planner/
