Orionids

Around the 22nd of October the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak. The radiant lies a little to the north of Betelgeuse and the source of the meteors is debris shed from comet Halley.

Due to the Comet's retrograde orbit the meteoroids hit the Earth's atmosphere at great speed creating displays of swift meteors, many leaving shortlived green trains.

In most years ZHR is around 20, but there seems to be a recent increase in activity. 2009 gave a good show, where, before sunrise on the 22nd a meteor was seen on average every few minutes in my field of view (and some were probably missed out of my field of view). There were a few bright (mag 0 and brighter) events which were pleasing to see.

Here's a few images taken on the morning of the 22nd October 2009 from a dark location to the north of Melbourne.

	Two meteors streak away from the radiant in this annotated image.
	The southern Milky Way in the morning twilight. Eta Carina is middle left, the Southern Cross and Coal Sack lower middle. A meteor streaks into the frame at upper left.
	One Orionid streaks away towards Taurus.

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