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equator, Jupiter appears in the northern sky. With all this thrown in the mix, the wee hours are grand for watching two bright planets, the lore-laden skies and the Orionid meteors.
• See Sirius, nighttime's brightest star before dawn
• If the meteors originate in Comet Halley, why are they called the Orionids? The answer is that meteors in annual showers are named for the point in our sky from which they appear to radiate. The radiant point for the Orionids is in the direction of the constellation Orion the Hunter. Hence the name Orionids.
• For me, even one meteor can be a thrill. But you might want to observe the 2012 Orionid meteor shower for an hour or more, and in that case the trick is to find a place to observe in the country. Bring along a blanket or lawn chair - after midnight or before dawn - and lie back comfortably while gazing upward. Watch debris from Halley's Comet streak the predawn sky on October 21!