Orionid meteor shower peaks Wednesday night amid possible nor'easter clouds

The Orionid meteor shower, produced by debris from Halley's Comet, is expected to peak Wednesday night and continue into early Thursday morning. Observers in New England may encounter cloud cover as an offshore nor'easter moves into the region, potentially obscuring the best viewing conditions.

The meteors travel at roughly 41 miles per second and can appear as bright streaks, fireballs, or lingering trails known as trains. Under ideal dark skies, the shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour, though this year's visibility is likely to be reduced by the moon, which will be about 80 percent illuminated.

"The best viewing will be after midnight and before dawn, especially once the moon sets around 3 to 4 a.m.," said a local weather spokesperson.

Astronomers note that the Orionids radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises in the east and climbs higher through the night. To maximize chances of seeing the meteors, observers are advised to find locations away from city lights and to keep an eye on cloud forecasts, as the nor'easter could push clouds inland as far as the Mass Pike and I-495 loop.

The meteor shower will remain active into early November, offering additional opportunities for observation after the storm moves out of the area on Thursday night.