The Orionid meteor shower returns this October, giving skywatchers another chance to catch a glimpse of debris left behind by one of the most famous comets in history — Halley's Comet.
The annual meteor shower is active between Oct. 2 and Nov. 7 and will peak overnight on Oct. 21-22, 2026, when around 10 to 20 meteors per hour can be spotted under ideal viewing conditions.
However, a bright waxing gibbous moon will make viewing a little trickier this year, washing out fainter shooting stars. BUT don't give up on the Orionids just yet. These meteors are known for their incredible speed and bright glowing trails.
What causes the Orionids?
The Orionid meteor shower is produced when Earth passes through the debris or ice and dust left behind by Comet 1P/Halley, more commonly known as Halley's Comet.
The meteors that streak across the sky are some of the fastest among meteor showers because Earth is hitting the stream of particles from Halley's Comet almost head-on.
Orionids zip through the sky at 41 miles (66 kilometers) per second, only 3 miles (5 km) per second slower than the speedy Leonids, according to NASA Science.
Where can you see the Orionids in 2026?
Right ascension: 5 hours
Declination: 5 degrees
Visible between: Latitudes 85 and minus 75 degrees
The Orionids are visible to skywatchers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (weather permitting).
Meteor showers are named after the constellation from which the meteors appear to emanate, known as the radiant. From Earth's perspective, the Orionid meteor shower appears to come approximately from the direction of the Orion constellation.
Orion is located on the celestial equator and is visible throughout the world. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, Orion is located in the southwestern sky and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, it is visible in the northwestern sky. The three bright stars Alnilam, Mintaka and Alnitak that form Orion's belt are the easiest to spot.
Don't look directly at Orion to find meteors, as the shooting stars will be visible throughout the sky. Make sure to move your gaze around the nearby constellations, as meteors closer to the radiant have shorter trains (glowing trails of debris) and are more difficult to spot. If you only look at Orion, you might miss the more spectacular Orionids.
To see the Orionid meteor shower at its best, go to the darkest possible location, lean back and relax. You don't need equipment like telescopes or binoculars as the secret is to take in as much sky as possible and allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
If you want more advice on photographing the Orionids, check out our how-to photograph meteors and meteor showers guide. If you need imaging gear, consider our best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
When is the best time to look for the Orionids?
The best time to view the Orionid meteor shower is between midnight and dawn when the shower's radiant, the Orion constellation, is high in the sky.
The Orionids are active from Oct. 2 to Nov. 7 according to the American Meteor Society and will peak Oct. 21-22.
Although a bright waxing gibbous moon will interfere with viewing efforts this year, all is not lost. The moon will set in the early hours of the morning, leaving a window of darker skies before dawn. This is also a particularly good time to look for Orionids, as the shower's radiant climbs higher in the sky after midnight.
To calculate sunrise and moonrise times in your location, check out this custom sunrise-sunset calculator.
What causes the Orionid meteor shower?
The Orionids are caused by the debris of ice and dust left behind by Halley's Comet when it passes through the solar system. According to the UK Meteor Network, the meteors we see today come from debris left by Halley's Comet hundreds of years ago, as the current orbit of the comet doesn't bring it close enough to Earth to produce meteors.
When Earth passes through the comet debris, the "comet crumbs" heat up as they enter Earth's atmosphere, producing impressive "shooting stars" that streak across the sky.
Halley's Comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun, it will next return to the inner solar system in 2061.
The comet is named after English astronomer Edmond Halley, who examined reports of comets approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682. He concluded that these sightings were all of the same comet returning over and over again. Halley predicted the comet would return in 1758. Though he did not live to see the comet's correctly predicted return, it was later named in his honor.
Editor's note: If you snap a great photo of an Orionid meteor or any other night sky sight you'd like to share with Space.com and our news partners for a story or image gallery, send images and comments to: spacephotos@space.com.
Additional information
Have you seen a fireball recently? Report the sighting to the American Meteor Society to help contribute to fireball research. Explore the historical significance of Halley's Comet and the Battle of Hastings with this NASA feature. Take a tour of meteors and meteorites through history on this Google Arts & Culture feature courtesy of Adler Planetarium.
