How to see "beautiful" Orionid meteor shower at its peak best
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A meteor streaks across the sky over a desert during the October 2023 Orionid meteor shower in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images
The Orionid meteor shower is set to treat stargazers to "one of the most beautiful showers of the year" — with streaking meteors and fireballs shooting across the sky as it peaks through Thursday, according to NASA.
The big picture: This meteor shower occurs every year as the Earth passes through the inbound debris stream of Halley's Comet, with the 2025 Orionids active from Oct. 2-Nov. 7 and peaking this week, per an American Meteor Society online post.
How to see Orionid meteor shower
NASA recommends finding an area well away from city or street lights.
- "Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair," NASA says.
- "Lie flat on your back with your feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible."
Fun fact: Your eyes will adapt after spending less than 30 minutes in the dark and you should start to see meteors.
When is peak viewing time?
Peak night is Wednesday into Thursday according to NASA's post.
The best time to view the Orionids is from midnight until dawn, NASA notes.
What to expect
Observers in dark, rural areas could see up to 20 swift Orionid meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society.
- "Viewing conditions will be excellent this year," with Tuesday's new Moon ensuring "dark skies with no lunar interference during the early morning hours," the society says.
- "If skies are cloudy, check again on following mornings — Orionid activity remains strong for nearly a week."
What to know about the Orionid meteors
These meteors are "known for their brightness and for their speed," NASA says.
- They travel at around 41 miles per second into Earth's atmosphere.
Of note: "Fast meteors can leave glowing 'trains' (incandescent bits of debris in the wake of the meteor) which last for several seconds to minutes," per NASA.
- "Fast meteors can also sometimes become fireballs: Look for prolonged explosions of light when viewing the Orionid meteor shower," the space agency notes.
- "The Orionids are also framed by some of the brightest stars in the night sky, which lend a spectacular backdrop for these showy meteors."
In photos: 2025 Orionid meteor shower
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