The Orionid meteor shower — that heavenly annual light display that returns to the sky each October — will peak in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 21, according to the Griffith Observatory. The “showers” can be seen now through Nov. 7, but tonight (Oct. 15) through Oct. 22 is predicted to be the best time to watch meteors flame across the sky at a speed of 35 miles per second. (Find out-of-the-way spots to view meteors.)
“Best viewing is just before dawn starts at about 5:30 a.m.,” said Anthony Cook, astronomical observer at the L.A. observatory. Viewing is best at that time, Cook said, because it’s when the Earth is “facing into the stream of meteors that are passing by.”
The only fly in the ointment: The moon will be pretty bright, which means many of the dim meteors likely won’t be visible.
