Tonight will be the peak of the Orionid meteor shower, and when you're wishing on those shooting stars -- you're actually wishing on fragments of Halley's Comet!

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If the skies aren't clear tonight, you'll still have a chance to see the meteor shower in the days after Wednesday's peak. According to CNN, early morning viewing hours are the best, due to the position of the moon.

Astronomers say you'll see up to 20 meteors per hour streaking across the sky during the peak.
The Orionids shower happens every year between October 2 and November 7, according to the American Meteor Society.
What makes the Orionids special, are the gas trails left by meteors that can be visible in the sky even after the meteor itself is gone, or they can break up into bright fragments which look like sparkles in the sky.
"The peak occurs when the Earth passes through a debris stream left by the Comet Halley as we intersect its orbit each year at this time. Halley's Comet itself was last seen in our sky in 1986 and will reappear in 2061. The comet makes an appearance every 76 years on its journey around the sun, according to NASA."

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