How to Observe Today’s Orionids Meteor Shower
Your favorite autumn meteor shower is back! Orionids Peak tonight, although they should be visible anytime from now until November 7, 2020.
They are called the Orionids because the meteors appear to come from where the constellation Orion is. (Fun fact: They are made from the debris of Halley’s comet .) Even if you are not too big a stargazer, this stream is easy to spot. Look for three stars in a row; this is the “belt” worn by the hunter Orion.
Early morning will be the best time to watch the show if the weather lasts – the hours before dawn is the time when you are most likely to see meteors.
California, the US Southwest and parts of the Southeast are likely to get better views as there are clouds on the east coast in the forecast . But if you see Orion at all, it’s worth seeing if meteors appear. At its peak, this shower often produces 20 to 25 meteors per hour. According to EarthSky , Orionids usually fly through the sky very quickly, but they tend to leave a trail that can be seen for a few seconds afterward.
If you don’t see anything tonight, try again tomorrow. The Orionids will be at least partially visible during the first week of November, weather permitting. Find a spot with a little light pollution and look up.
This post was first published in October 2019 and was updated on October 20, 2020 with the dates and weather forecast for this year’s downpour.