"As Earth revolves around the Sun, it periodically crosses cometary and asteroidal orbits. When crossing occurs, their debris impacts Earth's atmosphere. The longer the period of the comet or asteroid, the faster its meteors move when striking Earth. Faster impact speeds lead to brighter shooting stars, creating spectacular meteor streaks. Halley's comet is designated as 1P by professionals: the first periodic comet ever discovered."
"It spawns two meteor showers: May's Eta Aquarids and October's Orionids. Once Orion rises, meteors emerge about 10° north/northwest of bright Betelgeuse. The coincident new Moon contributes no light pollution, making 2025 ideal for Orionid viewing. The best sights will appear between 11:30 PM on October 20th and 2:30 AM on October 21st. From either hemisphere, find a dark location and set up a blanket, lounge chair, or upright chair."
"No need for binoculars or a telescope; take in the wide-field views. Once your eyes dark adapt, 20-to-30 meteors-per-hour will appear across the skies. Meteors appear omnidirectionally, but all trace their origin back to the Orionids' radiant: near Betelgeuse. November's modest Leonids (November 17th) and December's abundant Geminids (December 14th) will yield fainter meteors than October's Orionids. Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words."
As Earth orbits the Sun it periodically crosses cometary and asteroidal orbits whose debris impacts the atmosphere to produce meteor showers. Longer orbital periods yield faster meteors, and faster impact speeds create brighter shooting stars and spectacular streaks. Halley's Comet (1P) produces the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October. The 2025 new Moon creates low light pollution, favoring the Orionid peak between 11:30 PM on October 20 and 2:30 AM on October 21. Observers from either hemisphere should use a dark, reclined observing position without optics; expect roughly 20–30 meteors per hour near Betelgeuse.
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