Meteor shower Orionids — observing times and guide

Moon conditions for Orionids — 2026

Meteor visibility depends strongly on the Moon’s position and brightness. This chart helps identify darker observing periods.

Blue and white show night and day; red marks when the radiant is above the horizon, the white line its transit, and grey when the Moon is above the horizon. Select a date for detailed Sun and Moon times.

Orionids meteor shower

The Orionids are an annual meteor shower that usually peaks around October 21–22. They originate from debris left by Halley’s Comet (1P/Halley), the same parent body that produces the Eta Aquarids in May.

What to expect

• Typical rate: about 15–25 meteors per hour under dark, moonless skies during the peak.
• Speed: very fast — roughly 66 km/s — so meteors appear as quick, bright streaks.
• Trains: many Orionids leave persistent glowing trails (or “trains”) that can linger for several seconds.
• Radiant: the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, near the star Betelgeuse.

Best time to watch

The best viewing window is after midnight until dawn, when Orion is high in the sky. For casual observing, find a dark location away from city lights, lie back, and look at a wide patch of sky — you do not need to stare at Orion itself.

Visibility tips

1. Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark.
2. Avoid using bright screens or flashlights; use a red-filtered light if necessary.
3. Check the Moon phase: bright moonlight can reduce the number of visible meteors significantly.
4. Dress warmly and bring something comfortable to lie on — meteor watching often involves long, still periods.

Observing the Orionids

Radiant position:

• Right Ascension: 06h 28m 00s"
• Declination: 15° 42' 00s

Peak activity: Active from October 13 to November 12; with peak activity around October 23.

Associated parent body: Orionids is produced by debris associated with 1P/Halley. Earth encounters this stream along its orbit.

Orionids — Observation history

Previous activity records show the reported start, peak and end dates. Exact dates may shift slightly from year to year.

Use these dates as a historical guide and check current predictions near the event.