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
