If you’re out enjoying the predawn darkness Saturday, you’ll likely see a number of bright streaks peppering the sky. These are Orionid meteors, which belong to an annual shower that peaks before dawn. Observers under a dark sky could see up to 20 meteors per hour shortly before twilight begins, when the constellation Orion the Hunter climbs highest in the south. (The meteors appear to radiate from a point in northern Orion.) With the Moon absent from the morning sky, viewing conditions could hardly be better this year. The Orionids will remain visible until Oct. 26. And keep this in mind when you spot a meteor: There's a 75 percent chance it's a remnant of Halley's comet.
The Great Square of Pegasus is a large constellation that's easy to find this time of year. (Credit: © T. Credner & S. Kohle, AlltheSky.com) For the rest of the week, look high ...
