When is the Orionid meteor shower 2026?
The Orionids peak on October 21, 2026
Peak Oct 21, around 18h UT. ZHR 20+. Pick your city for its own times.
The Orionids are active now. See tonight's estimate for your city →
Best time to watch
computed for each cityThe Orionids are over for this year; the next return is listed in the calendar.
City by city
The best night and window for the Orionids in our biggest cities, local time.
| City | Best night | Best time (local) | Per hour* |
|---|
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
About the Orionids
The Orionids are dust from Halley's Comet. They hit the air at about 66 km/s, among the fastest of any shower, so many leave glowing trains. The radiant is near Betelgeuse's raised club in Orion, which rises around 10–11 pm and is highest before dawn.
IMO: the radiant is at a useful height from about local midnight in either hemisphere, a little earlier in the north. The waxing Moon leaves some moon-free hours at least until the maximum. Peak ZHRs averaged 20–30 in 2012–2020, and activity can stay similar for several nights around the peak, with lesser maxima.
Parent body: Halley's Comet (1P/Halley). Active Oct 2–Nov 7. Radiant in Orion; both hemispheres.
How to watch
- Get dark. Away from street lights the count can triple.
- Lie back and look about halfway up, toward the darkest part of the sky. You do not need to face the radiant.
- Give it time. Meteors come in clumps; watch for at least 30–60 minutes after your eyes adapt.
- Check the clouds with your local forecast: we do not forecast weather.
Questions
When is the Orionid meteor shower 2026?
The Orionids are active Oct 2–Nov 7, with the peak Oct 21, around 18h UT (International Meteor Organization). The best night for you depends on where the peak falls in your local night; the city picker on this page works it out.
What time is best to see the Orionids?
In general, when the radiant is highest in a dark sky, which for most showers is after midnight.
How many Orionids will I see per hour?
The IMO lists a ZHR of 20+: the rate under a perfect sky with the radiant overhead. from a town, a third or less. These are estimates: real rates vary.
Will the Moon affect the Orionids?
The peak has passed for this year, so no Moon figure is shown. It will hide fainter meteors while it is up; the table shows when it rises or sets for your city.
Where should I look for the Orionids?
Anywhere: meteors appear all over the sky, they only trace back to the radiant in Orion. Look about halfway up, away from the Moon and city lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Other meteor showers
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.