2011 Orionid Meteor Shower Photos by Skywatchers

Halley's Comet from Table Mountain Observatory

This photograph of Halley's Comet was taken January 13,1986, by James W. Young, resident astronomer of JPL's Table Mountain Observatory in the San Bernardino Mountains, using the 24-inch reflective telescope.

Where to See the Orionids

Skywatchers can look for the Orionid meteor shower in the constellation Orion, the Hunter. The setup is seen here from mid-northern latitudes. Even though the radiant of the shower is in Orion, meteors can appear far from the constellation.

Orionid Meteor Shower 2011 Sky Map

This NASA sky map shows morning sky on Saturday, Oct. 22nd at 5:30 a.m. local time, viewed facing southeast, the location of the Orionid meteor shower created by leftovers from Halley's Comet.

Orionid Meteor Photographed by Antti Pietikäinen of Finland

Antti Pietikäinen of Finland snapped this photo of an Orionid meteor. He said: "I went out alone on to a field next to my house in Muonio, Lapland, Finland. We have little streetlights [sic] and population density here is 1 person per square kilometer so nights are nice and dark. After snowfall, [the] landscape whitens and stars become less visible so this time of year — before the snow — is optimal for wandering out in the night."