Orionid Meteor Shower to Peak in the Night Sky Late October—Here’s How You Can Catch the Light Show

Bill Ingalls/ NASA via Getty Images

It was 1986 when the last casual observer spotted Halley’s Comet shedding its detritus throughout the heavens, far above the Earth. But every year around late October, Earth passes through that trail of space dust and debris left in the comet’s wake, causing bits of cosmic matter to strike our atmosphere, burn up, and become a splendid meteor shower.

As it appears to emanate from north of the constellation Orion, this particular meteor shower was called the Orionids. They will peak this year on Oct. 21, but you can catch them until Nov. 22, as Earth traverses that trail of space dust and debris. With the crescent moon now waning (the new moon falls Oct. 25), creating ample darkness, conditions are ripe for stargazers to catch a glimpse of the Orionids.

How to Spot the Orionids

The meteor shower will be visible in the hours after midnight until dawn—that’s true for every time zone. They can be viewed from both the northern and southern hemispheres, according to NASA. Would-be meteor-gazers should find a spot well away from city street lights. Grab a blanket and lay back in a sleeping bag or lawn chair to take in as much of the sky as possible. Those north of the equator should face southeast, toward the constellation Orion, while those south of the equator should face northeast. In under 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes should adjust, and you will begin to spot meteors. Be patient. There will be plenty of time to catch a glimpse of shooting stars.