Orionid meteors before dawn on October 20-22
A painting of an Orionid meteor in the sky over a group of golden aspens in the vicinity of Bishop, California. Credit: Duane Hilton
Friday, October 19
The Orionid meteor shower will peak this weekend.
Try watching before dawn on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings. The peak date for this annual shower defies easy prediction, but, while Saturday morning should feature some meteors, the greatest number of meteors will probably fall before dawn on Sunday and Monday mornings.
The Orionid shower isn’t the year’s best meteor shower, but you can expect to see about 15 to 20 meteors per hour at the shower’s peak this weekend. These meteors are fast and usually on the faint side, but the Orionids can sometimes surprise you with an exceptionally bright meteor that might break up into fragments.
Orionid meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion the Hunter. But you don’t need to know where Orion is to see the meteors. They radiate from Orion to appear in all parts of the sky. Just find a clear, dark, open sky. Recline in a lawn chair or blanket and gaze up at the sky during the predawn hours this weekend.
The Orionid meteors are debris left behind by the most famous of comets – Comet Halley. Every year, in October, our planet Earth passes through the comet’s orbital path.
That’s Saturday and especially Sunday and Monday mornings before dawn – the Orionid meteor shower.
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2007 meteor shower calendar
The Orionid meteors
Comet Halley
While watching for the Orionid meteors, people in the northern hemisphere can look for the subtle glow of zodiacal light – or the “false dawn” – before the onset of morning twilight.
It seems so cool,and actually ,the picture is very beautifull.I haven’t witnessed a meteor shower,and I don’t want to miss the chance.
I am a student from China.And now I am in the city Xian,in the northwest of China.I am not sure that if I can witness that shower in China.Who can give me a definite answer .Thanks very much.
I am a student from China.And now I am in the city Xian,in the northwest of China.I am not sure if I can witness that meteor shower here,in this part of China.Who can give me a definite answer?Thanks very much.
The best place to see any meteor shower is hiway 62/180 about 50 miles east of El Paso. No lights, no aircraft, NOTHING! Check it out.
Wanglong,
Yes, the Orionid meteor shower is visible from China. The Orionids are visible worldwide, generally best seen between midnight and dawn. It’s usually a modest shower, nowhere matching the Geminids that will be forthcoming around December 13-14. Yes, the Geminids can be seen from China, too. For more 2007 meteor shower information, click here.
Bruce
Yes, we saw the Orionid meteor shower from Glen Rose Texas. We awoke at 5:00am to see two very bright meteors within a minuite or two of each other. We saw aproximately 8-10 faint meteors over the next 20 minutes. Jake and I will be getting up at 5:00am October 21 to look again. Wish us luck :)
Craig, Leslie & Jake,
I’ll be waiting to hear your report! I got up around 2 a.m. this Monday morning (Oct. 22), spending the rest of the night outside, enjoying the comfort of a reclining lawn chair and sleeping bag. I didn’t count the number of meteors, but I think the shower lived up to its billing of 10-15 meteors per hour. Beautiful Night!
Bruce
darn,it was raining here in OK. bb