Starwatch: Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak

Up to 20 meteors an hour may be visible as Earth passes through centre of dust cloud left by Halley's comet

The Orionid meteor shower reaches the peak of its activity this week. On the night of 21-22 October, Earth will plough through the central portions of a dust cloud that was once part of the tail of Halley's comet.

During the peak of the Orionids up to 20 meteors an hour may be seen from a dark site. The Orionids are so named because they appear to be coming from the Orion constellation.