Orionid meteor shower 2026: When and where to watch the October shooting stars and how to get the best view

The Orionid meteor, one of the most beautiful showers, will peak overnight on October 21st to 22nd. Skywatchers will get a chance to see shooting stars created by the debris from Halley’s Comet. The shower could produce 10-20 meteors per hour in the dark skies. Although the number of meteors depends on the weather, moonlight, and light pollution, as per NASA.

When is the best time to watch the Orionid meteor shower?

The shower is active from Oct 2nd to Nov 7th, according to NASA. However, the best opportunity to witness the most meteors is expected around the peak on the night of the October 21 st to 22 nd peak. The hour before sunrise could give the best chance as the moon will set and the sky will get darker. The shower is also likely to be seen on nights beyond the peak period.

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How many meteors could you see per hour?

Several factors can play a critical role that can block the view. Street lights and other man-made activities can make it challenging to see the meteors.

The moon is also expected to be bright during the peak period. According to space.com, this is likely to make some meteors inaccessible to naked-eye observers early in the night. For the best chances of seeing meteors, viewers should find a dark place and give themselves plenty of time to watch.

What causes the Orionid meteor shower?

The Orionids happens when the earth passes through the dust and dust particles from Halley’s Comet. These tiny space particles enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds. Then it heats up and glows brightly, creating streaks of light in the sky. This creates streaks of light that people see as shooting stars. The comet was last seen in the inner solar system in 1986 and is due to return in 2061.

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The Orionids appear to come from the direction of the constellation Orion. This is referred to as the radiant. However, the meteors can come from different parts of the sky. As a result, viewers do not have to look in Orion’s direction to see the meteors.

A good way to watch for meteors is to scan a large part of the sky. According to space.com , viewers should avoid looking in the radiant if they want to see meteors with long trails since they appear to come from there.

The constellation Orion is identifiable by the three bright stars in a line at the center called Orion’s Belt. These can help locate the general area. However, viewers should note that the meteors can come from beyond the belt.