Orionids 2026: Where & How To See Them In October
Get ready for a dazzling celestial spectacle! The Orionids will peak on the night of October 21–22, delivering about 20 meteors per hour. Read on to discover all the details about this astronomical event and use Sky Tonight to plan the best viewing time.
Contents
- Orionids 2026: When and where to see
- What is the Orionid meteor shower?
- Orionids viewing tips
- The Orionid meteor shower 2026: The key takeaway
Orionids 2026: When and where to see
- Active: October 2 – November 7
- Peak of activity: October 21–22
- Meteors per hour: 20+
- Moon illumination: 82%
- Radiant location: Orion
- Parent body: Comet 1P/Halley
- Best visible from: Both hemispheres
- Description: The Orionids are a fast, elegant meteor shower produced by debris from Halley’s Comet. Their radiant climbs high after local midnight in both hemispheres (a bit earlier in the north). Activity can be spread over several nights, and some years bring enhanced meteor rates or multiple smaller peaks.
Orionids 2026: Visibility forecast
In 2026, the Orionids peak under a waxing Moon, which will significantly brighten the sky during the first half of the night. For the best results, wait until the pre-dawn hours, when the radiant climbs higher and the Moon sinks lower and then finally dips below the horizon.
Where to see the Orionids in 2026?
The Orionids are observable in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Look for the Orionids from 45 to 90 degrees away from the radiant (in the constellation Orion). From this perspective, they appear more glowy and longer than if you’d look directly at a radiant point.
To find the radiant point, use the Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight app: open one of the apps and type “Orionids” in the search field, then choose the fitting result, and the app will show you where the Orionids’ radiant point is located on the sky map. To see the location of the Orionids’ radiant point right now, point your device to the sky, and the app’s image will adjust to the sky above you.
Best time to view the Orionid meteor shower in 2026
The peak activity of the meteor shower occurs between midnight and dawn on October 22. This year, the peak happens alongside the 80%-illuminated Moon, which will hinder observations. Either wait until the Moon sinks below the horizon or try to block the Moon’s light with a building, tree, or hill.
To avoid missing the Orionids’ peak, set a reminder for the event. You can do it with the Sky Tonight app — a helpful tool for meteor lovers. Open the app, tap the magnifier icon in the lower-left corner of the screen, and type “Orionid peak” in the search field. Flexible search will show you all related events — tap and hold the blue time below the name of the corresponding search result. Customize and set the reminder, and you definitely won’t forget about the shooting stars! For a visual reference, watch this video tutorial on reminders in the Sky Tonight app.
What is the Orionid meteor shower?
Orionids are considered a major annual meteor shower. They are active from October 2 to November 7, producing their peak rates of meteors around October 21. On this day, the average number of meteors is approximately 20 per hour, which is more than any other meteor showers of October and even November produce.
Halley's comet meteor shower
The Orionids are caused by ice and dust debris left by the comet 1P/Halley. It is known as the only naked-eye comet that can be seen twice in a human lifetime. 1P/Halley is a short-period comet that completes an orbit once in 75-76 years. Next time, the comet will return to the inner Solar System in 2061. Apart from the Orionids, Halley’s Comet produces the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which peaks on May 5-6.
Learn more about the origin of meteor showers in our short educational video.
Meteor shower in Orion
The radiant point of the Orionids is located in the constellation Orion, to the north of the bright star Betelgeuse. However, Orionid meteors can appear all over the sky, flying at the speed of 66 kilometers per second. In comparison, the speed of the Perseid meteors is 59 kilometers per second. Orionid meteors aren’t the fastest, but they keep their place at the top of the list.
Orionids viewing tips
We’ve gathered some tips to help you catch the best view of the meteors. With the right planning, the Orionids 2026 will bring you an unforgettable stargazing experience. Also, use our infographic on meteor showers as a quick reference: there, you’ll find these tips in the form of colorful illustrations.
Find a dark place
Find a place with a dark sky, away from the city lights: there are ten times fewer meteors visible in the city.
Take your time
While observing the Orionids, look for prolonged explosions of light that these meteors produce in the sky. But be patient — you’ll need about 20 minutes to adapt to the dark and start to see meteors.
Look for the meteors all over the sky
Don’t look directly at the radiant, as there will be mostly short meteors. The Orionid meteors can be seen everywhere in the sky.
Don’t use optics
Use only your eyes to watch the sky. Binoculars or telescopes won’t make your observation better, as they are designed to see more stationary objects.
Take warm drinks and clothes
Prepare your sleeping bags, blankets, or lawn chair, take a thermos full of hot tea or coffee, and start your stargazing night. Consider this spectacular astronomy event as a perfect chance to get outdoors and spend some time away from the busy city.
Get more tips for watching meteor showers in our dedicated article. And to make sure you don't miss any meteor, test your knowledge with our fun quiz on how to catch a shooting star.
The Orionid meteor shower 2026: The key takeaway
Among all the meteor showers in October, the Orionids promise the best show of the month. In 2026, their display will be hampered by a bright waxing Moon around the peak on October 21–22. However, if you wait until the Moon sets and the radiant rises the highest, you may see more than 20 meteors per hour. Track the radiant with Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight, and share your Orionid sightings with us on social media — we’d love to know how many “shooting stars” you catch!
