Orionids
Also called: October meteors
A long, gentle shower of very fast meteors that come from dust left by Halley's Comet, best after midnight in late October.
- Type
- Meteor Showers
- Best season
- Autumn
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- Peak around October 21–22; active from early October to early November
- Typical rate
- About 20 an hour at the peak
- Source
- Halley's Comet
- Radiant
- Near Orion, rising in the east after dusk
- Best for
- After midnight, from a dark site
What you will see
- Very fast, thin meteors, some with trails.
- An extended peak lasting several nights.
- The constellation Orion rising in the east.
How to watch
- Get away from city lights to a dark site with a wide view of the sky, and lie back in a reclining chair or on a pad.
- Let your eyes adapt to the dark for 20 to 30 minutes and keep white light and phone screens off.
- Look at the whole sky rather than staring at one spot, since meteors can appear anywhere.
- Watch after midnight, when Orion is high.
- Look for meteors in all parts of the sky.
Constellations to know
Field notes
The Orionids are the second shower made from Halley's Comet. They are among the fastest meteors of the year, so they are often thin and quick.
Related guides
Dates and times repeat from year to year but shift slightly, and the Moon's phase and the planets' positions are different every year. Check a current source such as NASA, the American Meteor Society, or a stargazing app before you plan a night out, and check the weather forecast for clear skies.