Orionid Meteors Peak This Week Above West Texas

West Texas skywatchers have an approaching date to circle: the Orionid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak from the night of October 21 into the morning of October 22.

The shower happens as Earth travels through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. The streaks appear to come from the direction of Orion, although meteors can cross many parts of the sky.

Under dark conditions, the shower can produce about 10 to 20 meteors an hour. That is a general viewing estimate, rather than a promise for any particular location.

A bright waxing gibbous moon will make fainter meteors harder to see this year. The best opportunity may come in the hours before dawn, after the moon sets.

For Lubbock and nearby communities, a location away from streetlights offers a better view than a brightly lit neighborhood. Give your eyes time to adjust and look across a wide area of sky.

The Orionids are active through November 7. Local clouds and light pollution will determine how much of the display is visible.

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