Don’t forget to go out in the early morning on Thursday to see the Orionid meteor shower. This shower has a very broad peak over the past few weeks but tomorrow morning will be the best time to try and see them. Peak rates are only about 20 per hour from a very dark location. These are particles of dust and small pebbles left over from Hailey’s comet which last passed through the solar system in 1986. They are called Orionids because due to the orientation of Earth’s orbit and the cometary debris, meteors appear to originate from near the constellation of Orion. Orion is huge and very noticeable in the morning just before dawn – around 5:00 to 6:00 AM.
Check this link and this one for more information.
BTW, Dogstar Observatory webcams and weather station are back on line.
Jim Stratigos – resident astronomer