Observers at the Marshall Space Flight Center report:
 18 meteors per hour at 0715 UT on Oct. 21

ORIONIDS

Useful links:

  • Annual Meteor Showers: Orionids
  • Orionids
  • Orionids 2001
  • Meteor Shower Data
  • The Orionids
  • Explanation of Orionids
  • Meteor Shower Highlights for 2001
  • Halley's cXmet Returns... in Bits and Pieces
  • The International Meteor Organization (IMO)
  • Orionids 2000
  • Weekend Meteors
  • APOD: Orionids Meteor Shower to Peak Tonight

    Space Weather News for October 21, 2001

    Geomagnetic Activity Alert

    AURORAS:

    An interplanetary shock wave, spawned by a solar explosion last Friday, swept past Earth on October 21st at approximately 1645 UT. A geomagnetic storm is underway, and sky watchers (especially those living at high latitudes) should remain alert for auroras. Usually the best time to spot Northern (or Southern) Lights is around local midnight.

    The solar wind shock wave that buffeted Earth's magnetosphere today could be just the first of two heading for our planet. If so, the ongoing storm could intensify when the second arrives later today (Oct. 21) or tomorrow (Oct 22).

    METEORS:

    North American observers spotted 10 to 20 Orionid meteors per hour before dawn on Sunday, Oct. 21st -- a typical Orionid maximum. The shower is not finished, though. Early risers who venture outdoors under dark, clear skies between 3 a.m. and sunrise on Monday, Oct 22nd, will likely count another 5-to-15 shooting stars per hour.

    What's Up in Space -- October 20, 2001

    This Weekend: Northern Lights and Meteors

    DOUBLE BLAST

    On Friday, twisted magnetic fields above sunspot 9661 erupted powerfully -- not once, but twice -- at 0105 UT and again at 1640 UT. Both explosions unleashed category X1.6 solar flares and hurled lopsided coronal mass ejections (CMEs) toward Earth. The expanding clouds will likely strike Earth's magnetosphere on Oct. 21st and possibly ignite Northern Lights during this weekend's Orionid meteor shower.

    NASA Science News for October 17, 2001

    Halley's Comet Returns
    ... in Bits and Pieces

    The annual Orionid meteor shower peaks this weekend on October 21st. Sky watchers will see as many as 20 fast shooting stars each hour -- each one a tiny piece of Halley's Comet. NASA scientists plan to observe the Orionids as a test of equipment they will use to record next month's much-anticipated Leonid meteor storm.

    FULL STORY.

    What's Up in Space -- 17 Oct 2001

    METEOR WATCH

    The annual Orionid meteor shower peaks this weekend on October 21st. Sky watchers in either hemisphere who venture outdoors between 3 a.m. and dawn on Sunday morning will see 10 to 20 meteors per hour streaming from a point near the shoulder of the constellation Orion. These meteors are debris shed by Halley's comet.

    ORIONIDS

    While everyone is talking about a possible outburst from the Leonids this year don't forget the dependable Orionids. This major annual shower produces rates averaging 10-20 meteors per hour at maximum. The best activity usually occurs on morning of the 21st or 22nd of October but can occur as early as the 18th or as late as the 25th.

    The Orionids are the inbound particles from Halley's Comet. Although the comet is now long gone material has spread around its entire orbit so that meteor displays are visible every year at this time. During the week of maximum activity the radiant lies on the Orion-Gemini border northeast of the bright orange star Betelgeuse. Meteors from this shower are swift, faster than the Perseids of August. Although most Orionids are faint there are occasions when fireballs are produced. Most of these fireballs are brightly colored and leave behind persistent trains. Since most shower members are faint this shower is poorly observed from home in the suburbs. A good dark sky showing the winter Milky Way is needed to see this shower in all its glory. The Orionids become active after 11pm local daylight time and are best seen at 5am (LDT) when Orion stands upright on the meridian. Orionid meteors can be seen during the entire month of October and through the first week of November but in much lesser numbers away from the period of maximum activity.

    Observers are urged to watch in one hour increments and to report the number of Orionids and the number of sporadics (random meteors) seen. It is also very helpful to estimate the limiting magnitude near the center of your field of view at least once an hour so that your personal sky conditions can be factored. A good web site for learning to estimate LM's is at http://www.seds.org/billa/lm

    It is also important to note any hills, trees, or clouds that block your field of view while observing. It is also enjoyable to also try to record the magnitude of each meteor, color, speed 1(slow) to 5(fast), and any persistent train that is seen after the meteor has vanished.

    Clear skies and be sure to let us know what you saw!

    Bob Lunsford
    International Meteor Organization
    North American Coordinator

    Up to 20 shooting stars per hour may be seen as bits of Halley's comet make a reappearance Oct 21 and 22 during the the 1998 Orionids meteor shower.

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