Orionid meteor showers for October 2009 will be occuring from October 17th to October 25th but will peak before sunrise on Wednesday October 21st. According to astronomer Anita Cochran, of the University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory, at its peak, Orionid meteor showers should produce 20 to 25 meteors an hour, which can be considered as a "relatively decent show".
Halley's Comet photo taken by W. Liller in Easter Island, March 6, 1986
If you'll miss the Wednesday peak, you still have the chance to view them several nights around the peak because the Orionids are currently being created by a broad stream of debris left behind from Halley's comet, which last buzzed the planet in 1986.
Halley's comet streaks through the twilight sky on January 9, 1986,
in an image from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
So, no need for binoculars. For the best views, it is recommended that you go to a dark site away from city lights, then allow enough time for your eyes to adjust to seeing fainter objects in the sky. Also, dress warmly and enjoy the show.
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