The Orionid meteor shower occurs in the early morning hours of October 22. This year, the conditions are excellent for viewing. The sky will be dark, just before the new moon phase. The Orionids normally have from 15 to 30 meteors visible per hour, traveling at 41 miles per second.

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the trail of a comet. The constellation in the area of the sky where the shower appears to come from is the radiant and name of the shower. The source of the Orionid meteor shower is Comet Halley. Comet Halley returns every 76 years, replenishing the trail with new debris. Comet Halley last orbited the sun in 1985.