Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks This Month – When and Where To Watch

It's happening right now, depending on what time of day you're reading this will depend on how well you can see it, but don't panic, there's still plenty of time to see the 2020 Orionid Meteor Shower.

The Orionid Meteor Shower is already underway, however, the peak will be on October 20 and 21 when we'll be able to see anywhere 10 - 20 meteors per hour. The shower is remnants of Haley's Comet and appears to emanate from Orion.

The key to successful meteor watching is...

1. Get away from city lights as best you can, the darker the better.
2. Lay on your back with as much un-blocked sky overhead as possible.
3. Best time to watch is anytime after midnight through dawn.
4. Time commitment, you have to dedicate a good hour or more because the first 30 minutes or so you have to let your eyes adjust to the dark.
5. Here's the hardest one, put down the cell phone. When you look at the bright light of your phone your eyes will have to, you guessed it, re-adjust.

Nobody said it would be easy, just worth it.

Incidentally, Orion's shoulder is the red star Betelgeuse, reports have it dimming in recent months and a lot of scientists and star-gazers are keeping a close eye on it. The thinking is it may be getting ready to go supernova.