Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Clear Skies Over Bonaire Are Perfect for Viewing Meteor Showers
The Orionid meteor shower is the second of two showers that occur each year as a result of Earth passing through dust released by Halley’s Comet, with the first being the Eta Aquarids. The point from where the Orionid meteors appear to radiate is located within the constellation Orion.
The Orionid generally begin on October 15 and end on October 29, with maximum generally occurring during the morning hours of October 20-22. The Orionid are barely detectable on the beginning and ending dates, but observers in the Northern Hemisphere will see around 20 meteors per hour at maximum, while observers in the Southern Hemisphere will see around 40 meteors per hour. The maximum can last two or three nights, although there is evidence of some fluctuation from year to year.
There are other, weaker meteor showers going on around the same time as the Orionid. The Orionid generally appear to move fast. When you see a meteor, mentally trace it backward. If you end up at Orion then you have probably seen an Orionid meteor!
Best viewing on Bonaire will be away from Kralendijk, or other residential areas, in locations which do not have any light pollution. For additional information, click here. (Source: Meteor Showers Online)
