Orionid Meteor Shower 2026: Peak Night Oct 21–22 and Best Time to Look
Short answer
The Orionids peak on the night of 21–22 October 2026. The Moon is about 74–80% lit, so look in the dark gap after moonset (around 3 a.m. local time in much of North America and Europe) and before dawn.
Skywatching searches are climbing this week because one of autumn's favourite meteor showers is almost here. According to NASA's October 2026 skywatching guide, the Orionids peak on the night of 21 October into the morning of 22 October. It is free, needs no telescope and is a great family science moment.
What are the Orionids?
Every October, Earth passes through a trail of tiny dust bits left behind by Halley's Comet. When those bits hit our atmosphere at about 66 kilometres (41 miles) per second, they burn up as quick streaks of light, often called "shooting stars". NASA's Orionids fact page says the shower is active from 2 October to 7 November 2026, and the meteors seem to come from near the constellation Orion.
How many meteors can you see?
The American Meteor Society says a normal year brings about 10–20 meteors per hour at the peak under dark skies. This year the Moon will be roughly 74–80% lit (waxing gibbous), so fainter meteors will be washed out while it is up. Brighter ones can still shine through.
Best time to look
The trick for 2026 is timing. The Moon sets around 3 a.m. local time in much of North America and Europe on 22 October. That leaves a dark window of about two hours before the sky starts to brighten. To plan your morning:
- Check dawn for your city with our sunrise and sunset calculator.
- Set a reminder with the countdown timer so you don't miss the window.
- Curious how long until Halley's Comet itself returns in 2061? Try the date difference calculator.
Simple viewing tips
Go somewhere away from street lights, such as a backyard, a park with an adult, or a balcony facing away from the city. Lie back and look at a wide patch of sky, not just at Orion. Give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust and keep phone screens dim. Dress warmly: October mornings are chilly. If clouds roll in, the shower stays active for days, so you can try again on 23 or 24 October with lower rates.
A note for families
An early-morning sky session is a fun way to talk about comets, space and how fast things move. Kids can count meteors in five-minute blocks and add them up afterwards. If waking at 4 a.m. is too much, try on a weekend morning and get extra sleep the night before. Our guide on how much sleep you need helps plan it.
Tip: daylight saving time ends on 1 November in the US and Canada. Read our clock change guide so later sky plans stay on time.
Updated 18 October 2026. Dates from NASA and the American Meteor Society; local moonset times vary.
