Monday, October 22, 2012

Orionid Meteor Shower

Ever wanted to see lots of shooting stars?  Tonight's a good night for that, if the weather's clear:  This weekend marks the peak of the Orionid meteor shower.  Every year about mid-October, the Earth's orbit takes it through the trail left behind by Halley's comet.  The debris contained within the trail is much too small to be dangerous, but numerous enough to give us a good show as it enters the Earth's atmosphere.  Depending on viewing conditions in your area, you can expect to see a meteor every few minutes or so. 

Tonight's not the only night for this meteor show, but after tonight the frequency of shooting stars will once again taper off, with the Orionid meteor shower ending around the 7th.

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