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The Orionids usually occur from October 17 - 25 and in 2012 are scheduled to peak late night on October 20 and continue overnight into the early morning hours of October 21.

The good news this year is that a waxing crescent moon will set by midnight, just as the Orionids hit their peak, allowing for optimum viewing in 2012.

The Orionids are truly a universal entertainment, since the shower's radiant point is close to the celestial equator. That means in both the northern and southern hemispheres astronomers (amateur and otherwise) can sit back and enjoy the show.

The origins of Orionids

In the night sky, Orionid meteors stream from what appears to be the elbow of Orion the Hunter in the Orion constellation. Yet their real origins are even more intriguing.

Named for astronomer Edmond Halley, Halley's Comet makes a visit to our inner solar system approximately every 76 years. Each time the famous comet swings by the sun, ice and bits of rocks are evaporated and bits of debris are sent flying off into space. Although most are not bigger than a speck of sand, they result in a brilliant show as they hit the atmosphere at some 90,000 mph. It is the comet remnants that stay behind which are responsible for the annual Orionid display.

The Orionids are the second of two showers that occur annually (the first being the Eta Aquarids) as a result of dust released by Halley's Comet.

How to view Orionids

Today, the best place to observe the Orionid meteor shower (or any meteor shower for that matter), is somewhere dark, away from light pollution, and with the moon out of the field of vision. The less light visible, the more brilliant the meteor shower will be.

While mostly viewable to the naked eye, the annual Orionid meteor show may be partially obstructed by the moon, clouds or night mist, so amateur astronomers may want to carry along a pair of binoculars just in case.

Even on clear nights, some type of viewing aid may come in handy for catching sight of even the faintest of falling stars, aptly named "telescopic" meteors. However, most experts advise to just forget the telescope - and simply look up toward the southeastern sky.

For photographing the annual event, a digital camera mounted on a tripod helps to steady the images that swiftly move across the sky. A quick trigger finger also helps, but even random clicks during the height of Orionid "prime-time" will also guarantee that you'll catch something! Be sure to have the camera focused on infinity and, if your camera permits, leave the shutter open for several minutes for the most spectacular photographic effects.

More about Orionid meteor showers around the Web:

Observing the Orionids - Historical background, facts and information with related photos, diagrams, and scheduled peak dates and best viewing times.

How to See the Best Meteor Showers of the Year: Tools, Tips and 'Save the Dates' - NASA report on this year's major meteor showers with viewing tips, photos and related resources.

Orionids - Wikipedia - A brief description with facts and information on Orionids origins, and a spectacular photo gallery.

Meteors: A Primer - Brief but informative overview of common terms that help identify various sizes and types of meteors.

also see --> Astronomy photo gallery | Iceland's Northern Lights