Orionid meteor shower peaks as Earth crosses Halley's comet debris

The Orionid meteor shower reaches its annual peak overnight Wednesday into Thursday, offering up to 20 meteors per hour despite a bright gibbous moon.

• The Orionids peak overnight between October 21 and 22 as Earth crosses the debris trail left by Halley's comet, visible from both hemispheres after local midnight.
• The International Meteor Organization forecasts a zenithal hourly rate of about 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
• The waxing gibbous moon at 76 percent illumination may obscure fainter meteors, though it sets a few hours before sunrise.
• Abdou Arishi, president of Saudi Arabia's Mada astronomy society, said viewing conditions before dawn will be "good and available" with the naked eye.