The Orionid Meteor shower peaks around 21-22 October each year. This is one of the two meteor showers associated with Comet Halley, the other being the Eta Aquaiids, visible early May.

The radiant point for the Orionids is a little below, and to the right of, Betelgeuse. So it is not a high radiant for NZ observers. Orionids tend to travel quite long distances, and often leave trains, which can sometimes be visible for several seconds.

The Orionids are not a rich shower, and if you see 10 an hour from our latitude, that's good. It is definitely more favourable viewing them from the northern tropics e.g. Hawaii. But, give it a go anyway - this year there will be no moon interference.

It is best to have a good, dark sky to the north and overhead. Don't look at the radiant area, but at least 15-20 degrees away (see notes on this in the Leonid meteors). From our latitudes, the best area of the sky to watch is the upper part of Orion and higher, Taurus, and the area of sky to the right of Canis Minor.

Betelgeuse rises about midnight, NZ time. At about 4.30 am Aldebaran in Taurus, Betelgeuse and Procyon, in Canis Minor form an arc from north to north east as seen from New Zealand

See how you get on, and send me your observations, if you wish. Observations should be sent to me at P O Box 2214, Christchurch or (preferably) email them to me at astrovino@owdjim.gen.nz

As I write this, the weather forecast is not good but, if you do have a clear sky, and happen to be looking at a dark sky over the long weekend, keep an eye out for some Orionids".

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