Streams of dust formed by Halley's Comet create a spectacle of light on the night sky

Oct 22, 2012 08:49 GMT  ·  By
Photographer Tommy Eliassen snapped this shot of the Orionid Meteor shower in Norway, on Oct. 20, 2012
   Photographer Tommy Eliassen snapped this shot of the Orionid Meteor shower in Norway, on Oct. 20, 2012

The Orionid Meteor peaked early Sunday, October 21, binging pieces of Halley's Comet on Earth. This spectacle can be seen every October, as the Earth passes through a stream of dust formed by Halley's Comet.

The particles light up, and appear to radiate out of the Orion constellation, hence the name Orionids. Bits of the comet travel through the Earth's atmosphere at 65 kilometers per second (150,000 mph), NASA astronomer Mitzi Adams reports.

According to Space.com, photographer Tommy Eliassen captured this shot of the Orionid Meteor shower in Korgfjellet, Hemnes, Norway, on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, as the shower was reaching its peak.

“An Orionid meteor streaking over the sky, the aurora borealis in the northern horizon and the Milky Way over my camp. […] A very cold but perfect night to photograph the Orionid meteor shower,” he said.