November Orionid Meteor Shower: When & Where to See
The November Orionids will reach their peak on November 28. Use Sky Tonight to find out when meteors will be most visible. Read on to discover all the details about this astronomical event!
Contents
- November Orionids 2025: Observer’s guide
- Meteor watching: what you need to know
- November Orionids 2025: to sum up
November Orionids 2025: Observer’s guide
In 2025, the November Orionid meteor shower will be active from November 14 to December 6, reaching its peak activity on November 28. During the peak, observers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect to see up to 3 meteors per hour, while those in the Southern Hemisphere may see around 2 meteors per hour, provided the skies are clear and dark.
This year, the shower will coincide with the First Quarter Moon. Fortunately, the Moon will set around midnight, so it won’t interfere with observations later in the night.
The radiant point of the November Orionids lies in the constellation Orion, about 8° north of the red supergiant star Betelgeuse. The best time to watch is after midnight, when the radiant climbs higher above the horizon. The meteors strike Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of about 43 km/s, which is relatively slow compared to other showers, so bright fireballs are not expected.
As for the origin of this meteor shower, there are differing opinions. Some researchers believe the parent body has disintegrated and can no longer be identified, while others suggest the November Orionids come from the large comet C/1917 F1 (Mellish). Dust and debris from this comet, known as meteoroids, are what produce the November Orionid meteors we see each year.
Meteor watching: what you need to know
To observe a meteor shower properly, you need to know:
- Its activity period and peak night, or the night when you can see the maximum number of meteors;
- Location of its radiant, or a point in the sky from which meteors seem to come from. The meteors are only visible when the radiant is above the horizon. Note that you don’t have to look exactly at the radiant to see meteors: they can be spotted everywhere above you.
- ZHR, which stands for zenithal hourly rate. Simply put, this number shows how many meteors per hour you can see while observing this stream;
- Moon phase: strong moonlight can wash out meteors, so it’s best to plan your observations around the New Moon or after the moonset.
Here, we provide the information along these points for the November Orionids, but you can instantly get detailed reports on every meteor shower via the Sky Tonight app. It features a comprehensive list of meteor showers, including their activity periods and peak dates, along with a lunar calendar and an interactive sky map, which can help you find the radiant in the sky from your location.
For more tips on how to observe and photograph meteor showers, see our infographic.
November Orionids 2025: to sum up
In 2025, the November Orionids will reach their peak on November 28. While they can’t boast a huge number of meteors or bright bolides, observing conditions on the peak night will be good, so why not give them a chance? Use a stargazing app like Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2 to locate the meteor shower’s radiant in the sky above you and prepare for observations. And if you want to see even more meteors – check our article on meteor showers in November.
