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The Orionids: Oct. 21-26, 2008
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  Summary: For the third year in a row, a stream of dust from Halley's Comet has produced an unusually strong and bright Orionid meteor shower. Worldwide observers counted twice the usual number of Orionids in spite of glare from a waning gibbous moon. [meteor counts] [sky map] See also the 2006 Orionid Gallery.
 
  Photographer, Location Images Comments


Marsha Adams,
Sedona AZ, looking SE over the Sedona Airport. Orion is in the pictures.
Oct. 21, 2008
#1, #2, #3

Time lapse camera taking pictures at one minute intervals captured a bolide from the Orionids meteor shower. The bolide explosion evidently left a bubble of glowing debris that expanded for at least 15 minutes. The original picture is not processed but the composite picture has been enhanced so the glowing clouds are more visible.


Martin Mc Kenna,
Maghera, Co. Derry, N. Ireland
Oct. 22, 2008
#1, #2, more

Tonight I was very impressed by the activity of the Orionid meteor shower despite maximum activity taking place the morning before. I observed a stunning Orionid pierce through Auriga so I set up my camera and took a patrol image. This beauty shot through the field!. It was magnitude 0 and left a wonderful blue and green ion train in its wake for 3 seconds. The meteor itself was multicoloured with a 'diamond' head. That's two bright Orionids in the same constellation in less than 1 min!. Fujifilm S6500fd 6.3MP ISO800 30 sec's F/2.8 28mm lens.


Chris Peterson,
Guffey, Colorado, USA
Oct. 21, 2008
#1, more

This is a composite image of 228 meteors made with a video allsky camera. The meteors were recorded between October 18 and October 21. The Moon has been removed from the composite, although a single frame has been retained showing a beautiful lunar halo.


Stephen O'Meara,
Volcano, Hawaii, USA
Oct. 21, 2008
#1

Despite the last-quarter Moon on October 21st, the Orionid meteor shower put on a good show over Hawaii. Between 2:30 am and 3:30 am Hawaiian standard time, I counted 20 meteors. They ranged from magnitiudes –1 to 4th. Many were colorful (yellows and blues), and the activity came in waves. The most memorable moment was when six swift meteors burst into view in six seconds! Very nice.

more images: from Jim Tegerdine of Marysville, Washington, USA