A moonless sky will set the stage for one of fall’s best celestial shows as the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak this week.

The Orionids are expected to top out with ideal viewing thanks to a new moon that arrives late Monday, Oct. 20, through the predawn hours of Tuesday, Oct. 21.

The shower, which is caused by Earth plowing through dust shed by Halley’s Comet, is currently active and runs through early November.

In a typical year, observers can expect around 20 meteors an hour at the peak, with the potential for brief flurries. Recent displays have tended to be low to average, but the lack of moonlight greatly improves your odds.

To watch, get as far from city lights as possible, recline for a wide view of the sky, and give your eyes twenty to thirty minutes to adapt to the dar

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