ORLANDO, Fla. - Monday night is shaping up to be one of the best nights of the season to catch the Orionid's meteor shower.

The peak is expected from Oct. 20 through the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 21, when Earth passes through the densest part of the debris stream.

Your best viewing window will be after midnight until around 5 a.m., when the sky is darkest and when our side of the Earth is pointed at the stream.

Remember, the best way to see the meteor shower is being surrounded by the darkest skies with limited light debris.

Under good conditions, you could see about 10 to 25 meteors per hour, and possibly more if you're watching from a darker location.

The show doesn't end tonight. While the peak window is tonight, the event continues through early November.

Tonight sky & moon forecast

The skies will be optimal for viewing this show in the skies with mostly clear conditions and a dim moon.

Science behind meteor showers

A meteor shower happens when Earth crosses a trail of debris left behind by a comet. As these tiny dust grains and pebbles enter our atmosphere at tens of thousands of miles per hour, they vaporize in a flash of light. This is why these meteors look like "shooting stars."

The News 6 Weather team ensures you're always on top of the day's weather.

Email AddressSign Up