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Orionid Meteor Shower 2018: When, Where & How to See It
By Elizabeth Howell, Space.com Contributor | October 16, 2018 02:20pm ET
Updated Oct. 16: The Orionid meteor shower is set to peak this week overnight on the night of Oct. 21-22, but the moon will lead to subpar views for this night sky display. The meteors that streak across the sky are some of the fastest among meteor showers, because the Earth is hitting a stream of particles almost head on.
"The moon is going to mess with you," NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com, and 15-20 meteors per hour should be visible.
The particles come from Comet 1P/Halley, better known as Halley's Comet. This famous comet swings by Earth every 75 to 76 years, and as the icy comet makes its way around the sun, it leaves behind a trail of comet crumbs. At certain times of the year, Earth's orbit around the sun crosses paths with the debris.
"You can see pieces of Halley's Comet during the Eta Aquarids [in May] and the Orionid meteor shower [in October and November]," Cooke told Space.com.
More:
https://www.space.com/34373-orionid-meteor-shower-guide.html