The Orionid meteor shower will reach its peak this evening. Here's how to watch it

Sunday night is the predicted peak of the Orionid meteor shower. The best time to look for these pieces of Halley's Comet debris hitting our atmosphere is after midnight, especially in the hours before sunrise.

“In 2024, the Orionid meteor shower is expected to rain its greatest number of meteors on the morning of October 20th and 21st. The morning of October 21 could bring the richest meteor show,” according to EarthSky.org.

The Orionids are expected to produce around 10 to 20 meteors per hour. You can find sightseeing tips here.

You don't need any equipment or know-how to enjoy the show. Just find a spot where you can set up a lounge chair or blanket to view the sky.

As of about 1 a.m. EDT in the east, the constellation for which this meteor shower is named “Orion the Hunter” hangs low over the horizon and will rise higher as the night progresses. A meteor that is part of the shower can be traced back to Orion. Sporadic meteors that are not part of the shower can also be seen at night.

The shower should intensify around dawn and Orionids can appear anywhere in the sky, but looking straight up will give you the widest viewing area. This is where the deck chair or blanket comes in handy.

If you're a city dweller, you can still see the brightest Orionids as long as you don't stare into a streetlight or hide between tall buildings. The Orionids are worth viewing from the suburbs, provided lights and obstructions are minimized as much as possible.

Weather will be an important factor, so check out the WTOP weather page. Clear skies are forecast!

The other big factor is the bright, waning moon that will be in the sky for the Orionids. Try to block the moon at your observation point. The Orionids are bright, so there's a good chance of stopping these rice-sized meteors from Comet Halley.

Bright Jupiter will be in the sky to the lower right of the Moon. Mars is located to the lower left of Jupiter and appears reddish in color and near two bright stars in the constellation Gemini. The winter lineups will also be on site. All in all, quite a night.

One last thing: Comet A3 is fading but is still visible in the west an hour after sunset. Use these maps to assist you in your sky observing.

Enjoy the shower and the night sky with family, friends and/or your significant other. Some food and drinks are an added plus. Make sure you have extra clothing as it can get chilly at night.

Keep following Greg Redfern Facebook, X and be daily blog to stay up to date with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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