The Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight, on the night of Sunday, October 20, 2013 — or the early morning of Monday, October 21, 2013, depending on how you look at it. The exact peak will be sometime between the hours of 2-5 AM on October 21, 2013.
The Orionids typically produce somewhere around 20-25 meteors an hour at their peak — this year, though, the Moon will be in a relatively bright part of its cycle during the peak, and as a result, the number of meteors visible will likely be greatly diminished.
For those that are going to give it a go — most of the meteors will appear to be originating out of the constellation of Orion the Hunter, which will rise in the South/Southeast portion of the sky after nightfall. Just south of the rust-colored, giant star Betelgeuse.
Something else to keep in mind — “while the peak will be on the 20th/21st, the Orionids are actually a rather long-lasting meteor shower, so if you head out sometime in early November or so, after the Moon enters a darker phase, you might still be able to see a few — the last stragglers will be visible until the middle or so of November.”
Some general meteor shower watching tips:
• Find the darkest sky that you can, preferably far from city lights — dark, rural locations are ideal.
• Get comfortable — a reclining chair, warm clothes, blankets, pillows, etc.
• A cup of warm coffee or hot chocolate tends to make the experience more enjoyable. 🙂
Make sure to check out the other great meteor showers of the year: Meteor Showers 2013 Dates and Times, Geminids, Orionids, Leonids, Draconids, Ursids, Taurids, Etc
Ned
Can you guys mention what hemisphere you are referring to with these? Thanks!
Ned
Can you guys mention what hemisphere you are referring to with these? Thanks!