Orionid Meteors

The Orionid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak on the night of October 20, with the best view coming after midnight. The shower occurs each year, when Earth crosses the path of Halley's Comet. Grains of comet dust plunge into the atmosphere at high speed, forming short-lived streaks of light as they vaporize. If you trace the paths of the meteors, they all appear to "rain" into the sky from the constellation Orion. However, they can streak across any part of the sky, so you don't have to look at Orion to see them. This view is around 2 a.m. local time. [Tim Jones]