Meteor Showers: Earth & Sky Event

The Orionid meteor showers are showing off in the skies overhead.

One of the most watched meteor showers of the year occurs annually as the Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley's Comet in 1986.

Through Oct. 25, best viewing time will be after midnight in the eastward sky, according to http://meteorshowersonline.com/orionids.html.

The Orionid meteor showers are so named because they appear to shoot from a point in the constellation Orion.

Find out more at Science@NASA's site, http://science.nasa.gov.

Note: Scientists say that as a bonus, sky gazers can find an additional five to 10 sporadic meteors per hour – those not related to the shower. (Living in the country helps see more "shooting stars.")

Illustration map: Science@NASA

Look Up - Perseids Sky Show

Image Star Map: Science@NASA

If you missed them early this morning (2 a.m. to dawn), go outside while most humans sleep and watch the meteors streaking across the sky. Best time to view them (with no cloud cover) will be 2 a.m. to dawn, EST.

Optimum viewing means finding the darkest place to watch, away from lights. (And bring bug spray.)

Earth is spinning through a stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, the source of the annual meteor shower. Perseids can appear in any part of the sky and at peal viewing, there can be 60 or more per hour.