When Is Orionids Meteor Shower?

The offspring of Halley's Comet is about to put on quite a show.

Earth passed through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet on Oct. 15, which will give us the benefit of the annual Orionids meteor shower—though you probably won't see much until a bit later.

What's the best place on the beach to watch the meteor shower?  Let us know in the comments section below!

The shower should be at its peak the night of Saturday, Oct. 20, until just before dawn on Oct. 21. This year, the moon will be setting at approximately midnight, which will keep the sky darkened enough that—barring cloud cover—you should be able to see up to 15 meteors per hour.

What makes this shower so cool? There's no question about where to look for this one. Meteor showers get their names from the constellations in the sky where they can be spotted. And what's easier to spot than Orion the Hunter?

The stars tend to shoot from Orion's club, pierce Taurus the Bull, the Gemini twins, Leo the Lion and finally, Canis Major, home of Sirius, the brightest star we can see aside from the sun.

There's also something else that's special about this show: With the second-fastest entry velocity of all the annual meteor showers, meteors from the Orionids produce yellow and green colors and occasionally produce an odd fireball.

To make sure you get the best view possible, remember to check the weather forecast and conditions before you head outside to watch. In Manatee County, the best place to watch the showers will be out east. Panther Ridge residents will get a great display.

Head out to Myakka City or Arcadia to watch the eastern skies light up. The darker the spot, the better the view.