Astronomy Picture of the Day · October 21, 1996

Explanation:

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 21, 1996 is “Explanation:,” an image. It is credited to Orionids Meteor Shower to Peak Tonight Credit: V. Winter (ICSTARS). The original explanation runs about 182 words.

From the explanation

“Tonight you might be able to see Halley’s Comet again – or at least some pieces of it. It is widely thought that that the meteors from the Orionids meteor shower , which peaks tonight, are just small pieces of Halley’s Comet falling to Earth.”

— APOD editors, October 21, 1996

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: October 21, 1996
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: Orionids Meteor Shower to Peak Tonight Credit: V. Winter (ICSTARS)
Copyright: No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 182 words

All of October 1996 → · 1996 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

The Sun Comets Meteors

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: October 21 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, October 21, 1996 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-1996-october-21-orionids-meteor-shower-to-peak-tonight

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.