WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Astronomers say this week's annual Orionid meteor shower, which is scheduled to peak overnight Tuesday, will be one of the best in years. But for many Americans living along the Eastern Seaboard and in the Pacific Northwest, it will all be for nothing, as storms are expected to scatter clouds over much of the United States.
In the Midwest, South and Southwest, clear skies and a new moon will provide ideal viewing conditions for the barrage of shooting stars -- its peak is expected to begin Tuesday night and last into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Though not as famous as August's Perseids, the Orionids have developed a reputation for exceeding expectations among astronomers and stargazers. Typically producing around 20 to 30 shooting stars per hour, the shower has doubled that output in recent years.