November Orionid Meteor Shower: When & Where to See
The November Orionids will reach their peak by the end of November. Use Sky Tonight to find out when meteors will be most visible. Read on to discover all the details about this astronomical event!
Contents
- Meteor watching: what you need to know
- November Orionids 2024: observer’s guide
- November Orionids 2024: to sum up
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.
November Orionids 2024: observer’s guide
Here’s everything you need to know about the November Orionids. To learn more about what meteor showers are and when and how to observe them, check out our infographic about meteors.
When to observe the November Orionids?
In 2024, the November Orionid meteor shower will be active from November 13 to December 6, producing a maximum meteor rate around November 28.
Moon phase on the peak night
In 2024, the November Orionids will peak two days before the New Moon, which means the sky will be dark at night, and you have a chance to see as many meteors as possible.
How many meteors to expect
Even at the peak of its activity, the maximum amount of meteors you can see from the Northern Hemisphere is 3 per hour. From the Southern Hemisphere, expect 2 meteors per hour with clear sky conditions.
Radiant location
November Orionids’ radiant point is located on the Taurus/Orion border, 9 degrees north of the 2nd magnitude star known as Bellatrix. Watch for this meteor shower after midnight, when its radiant point lies highest above the horizon. Its meteors will plow into the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 43 miles per second. Considering this relatively low speed, most likely, there won’t be any bright fireballs.
Parent body
There are different opinions regarding the November Orionids parent body. Some sources claim that it’s unknown because it’s already disintegrated. According to other studies, this meteor shower originated from a large comet — C/1917 F1 (Mellish). Cosmic debris of this comet called meteoroids are causing the November Orionid meteor shower.
November Orionids 2024: to sum up
In 2024, 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 ideal, 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.
