Orionids
The Orionid meteor shower, usually shortened to the Orionids, is the most meteor shower associated with Halley's Comet. The Orionids are so-called because the point they appear to come from, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Orion, but they can be seen over a large area of the sky. Orionids are an annual meteor shower which last approximately one week in late October. In some years, meteors may occur at rates of 50–70 per hour.
History
Meteor showers first designated "shooting stars" were connected to comets in the 1800s. E.C. Herrick made an observation in 1839 and 1840 about the activity present in the October night skies. A. S. Herschel produced the first documented record that gave accurate forecasts for the next meteor shower. The Orionid meteor shower is produced by the well known Halley's Comet, which was named after the astronomer Edmund Halley and last passed through the inner solar system in 1986 on its 75- to 76-year orbit. When the comet passes through the solar system, the sun sublimates some of the ice, allowing rock particles to break away from the comet. These particles continue on the comet's trajectory and appear as meteors when they pass through Earth's upper atmosphere. Halley's comet is also responsible for creating the Eta Aquariids, which occur each May.| Year | Activity Date Range | Peak Date | ZHRmax |
| 1839 | October 8–15 | ||
| 1864 | October 18–20 | ||
| 1981 | October 18–21 | October 23 | 20 |
| 1984 | October 21–24 | October 21–24 | |
| 2006 | October 2 — November 7 | October 21–24 | 23 with peaks at 67 |
| 2007 | October 20–24 | October 21 | 70 |
| 2008 | October 15–29 | October 20–22 | 39 |
| 2009 | October 18–25 | October 22 | 45 |
| 2010 | October 23 | 38 | |
| 2011 | October 22 | 33 | |
| 2012 | October 2 — November 7 | October 20 and October 23 | 43 |
| 2013 | October 22 | ~30 | |
| 2014 | October 2 — November 7 | October 21 | 20? |
| 2015 | October 2 — November 7 | October 20–21 | N/A |
| 2016 | October 2 — November 7 | October 21 | ~10–20 |