The Orionid meteor shower is expected to peak before dawn on October 21, with up to 20 meteors visible an hour; however, many meteors may still be seen between October 20-22.
As with observing any meteor shower, get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky. A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky.
As with observing any meteor shower, get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky. A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky.
The Orionids are so named as they seem to originate, or radiate, from near the famous constellation Orion. However, they will appear to streak across the entire sky. Their origin is thought to be from the dusty remnants of the tail of the famed Comet Halley! They are also very fast meteors; you may see that many leave "trails" behind as they burn up in our atmosphere.
You can use the free Meteor Counter app to record your meteor count and participate in NASA's LADEE mission! Available for iOS devices at http://meteorcounter.com/
Image of the radiant of the Orionid meteor shower, courtesy EarthSky
Date: Monday, 10/20/2014 - Tuesday, 10/21/2014
