It may not be quite as exciting as the baseball playoffs or the political debates, but another meteor shower arrives this week. The Orionids have a very broad peak from October 17 through October 25, so just about any night should be good for observing, weather permitting. However, the meteor shower will peak early this coming Sunday morning. The meteor shower normally produces up to 20 "shooting stars" visible per hour before dawn, given good sky conditions.
“We expect to see about 25 meteors per hour when the shower peaks on Sunday morning, October 21st,” says Bill Cooke, the head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “With no Moon to spoil the show, observing conditions should be ideal. The Orionid meteor shower isn’t the strongest, but it is one of the most
beautiful showers of the year. It really is a wonderful morning to be awake,” added Cooke. “Just don’t plan
on going anywhere in a hurry.”
So, what are the Orionids? They are bits of debris shed long ago by Halley's Comet which the Earth intersects during its annual orbit around the Sun. The comet last came through the Solar System in 1985-86, and its nucleus shed a layer of dirty ice about six meters thick on average. During that time the dirt bits have spread all around Halley's orbit, which is why some of the particles now intersect the Earth even though the comet's orbit does not. The first known Orionid shower was recorded by the Chinese in 288 AD when "stars fell like rain." Astronomers first recognized it in 1864.
Across southwestern Connecticut, the meteor shower rises high in the Eastern sky, at least 45 degrees high, by 2 a.m. That's when the meteor activity begins to reach its peak. To watch the Orionids comfortably, bundle up, and bring a lawn chair. Find a dark spot with an open view of the sky. The less light pollution, the better the view will be. Sky and Telescope Magazine encourages viewers to "Arrange the chair so that any bright lights are behind you out of sight, bundle up, lie back, and watch the stars. Be patient."
We certainly won't be able to see the Orionids tonight or tomorrow night since an approaching storm will bring periods of moderate-to-heavy rain and possibly a thunderstorm. But, conditions are expected to improve this weekend, just in time for the peak viewing of the meteor shower. Saturday will feature a few early showers followed by gradual clearing, while Sunday will offer a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the 60s. Enjoy the show.
Paul
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