Orionids 2026: peak date, best time and where to look
The Orionids peak on October 21–22, 2026. Here is when to watch, where to look and how the Moon affects the show.
| Peak | October 21–22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Best night | the night of October 21–22 |
| Active | October 2 – November 7 |
| Rate (ideal dark sky) | about 20 per hour (ZHR) |
| Parent body | Comet 1P/Halley |
| Speed | 66 km/s — one of the fastest showers, with many bright meteors that can leave glowing trains |
| Radiant | RA 6.3h, Dec +16° |
Moonlight in 2026
The Moon is about 80% illuminated and sets around 1–2 a.m. local time at mid-northern latitudes. The darkest, best window is from moonset until dawn.
Where and when to look
Visible from both hemispheres; the radiant near Orion's club rises around 10 p.m. local time and is highest before dawn.
Meteors appear all over the sky, streaking away from the radiant. You will see the most when the radiant is high and the sky is dark, so look about 40–60° away from the radiant, wherever the sky is darkest. Give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adapt and avoid looking at a bright phone screen.
Highest altitude of the radiant
| Location | Radiant's highest altitude |
|---|---|
| London / New York / Tokyo (≈40–51°N) | 61° |
| Los Angeles / Cairo (≈30–34°N) | 74° |
| Singapore (1°N) | 75° |
| Sydney / Cape Town (≈34°S) | 40° |
A piece of Halley's Comet
The Orionids are dust shed by Halley's Comet, which returns about every 76 years (next in 2061). Earth crosses this dust stream twice a year: in early May (the Eta Aquariids) and in October (the Orionids).
See the Orionids radiant over your own horizon on the peak night.
Simulate the meteor shower in 3D →