The root word for meteorology is “meteor” meaning of the sky. As we move into October, it is a great time to remember one of the more famous meteor showers: The Orionids. These meteors are formed from the dust of Halley’s comment, and get their name from the fact that the meteors appear to emerge from the constellation Orion. The constellation is easily visible and can be recognized by the triplet of stars that form Orion’s Belt. The peak is supposed to occur during the evening of the 20th and early morning of the 21st. Decent numbers of meteors can be seen beginning around 10 p.m. local time, but the best show picks up after midnight and continues until dawn. Clear, mild fall nights make a meteor watch a fun outdoor activity. Just remember the mosquito protection!
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu