The Orionid meteor shower, made of debris left behind by Halley's Comet, peaks overnight Wednesday, Oct. 21, into Thursday morning, Oct. 22, according to NASA's October skywatching guide. The best chance to see meteors across the United States comes in the dark hours after the moon sets and before dawn.

A bright waxing gibbous moon, about three-quarters lit, will wash out fainter meteors for much of the night, Space.com reports. It sets a few hours after midnight, leaving a window of darker sky before sunrise.

Under dark skies after moonset, observers can expect about 10 to 20 meteors an hour at best. That is a modest show, but it needs no equipment, costs nothing and is visible from both city outskirts and rural areas, as long as clouds cooperate.

Peak Timing and the Moon's Head Start

EarthSky, citing the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Observer's Handbook, puts the moment of peak activity at 18:00 UTC on Oct. 21, which is 2 p.m. EDT and 11 a.m. PDT, in daylight for North America. The Orionids have a broad peak that lasts several nights, so the mornings of both Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 should be productive, according to EarthSky's 2026 guide.

The moon is the main obstacle. It is heading toward full on the night of Oct. 25-26, which means it rises in the afternoon and lights the sky through much of the evening. Moonset times vary by location, so check a local almanac or astronomy app for your city.

The practical plan for most readers: set an alarm for about 3 to 5 a.m. local time on Thursday, step outside after the moon has gone down, and watch until dawn begins to brighten the sky. If Thursday is cloudy, Friday morning, Oct. 23, may still deliver a decent rate. The shower stays active through Nov. 22, though rates fall off after the peak.

Clouds matter more than anything else — check your local National Weather Service forecast for sky cover the evening before.

Where to Look Before Dawn

The meteors appear to fly out of a point near the constellation Orion, close to its reddish shoulder star Betelgeuse. That point, called the radiant, rises before midnight and climbs highest around 6 a.m., sitting in the southeastern to southern sky for U.S. viewers in the early morning.

Do not stare straight at Orion — meteors can appear anywhere overhead, and Space.com suggests looking 40 to 90 degrees away from the radiant, where trails tend to look longest. Lying back in a reclining chair and taking in as much sky as possible works better than scanning with binoculars or a telescope, which narrow your view.

Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, and avoid looking at your phone. Even a quick glance at a bright screen resets your night vision. If you need light, use a dim red flashlight.

Halley's Comet and Meteors at 41 Miles a Second

Every Orionid is a tiny fragment of Halley's Comet, the famous comet that swings past the Sun about every 76 years. Halley last appeared in 1986 and will return in 2061. Each orbit, it sheds dust and grit along its path, and Earth plows through that stream every October. Halley's debris also produces the Eta Aquariid shower in early May.

Halley travels around the Sun in the opposite direction to Earth, so its debris hits our atmosphere nearly head-on. EarthSky says Orionids strike at about 41 miles per second (66 kilometers per second), or close to 148,000 mph, making them among the fastest meteors of the year. Most pieces are smaller than a grain of sand and burn up 50 miles or more above the ground.

That speed creates striking effects. Orionids are usually white or pale yellow, and about half leave glowing trails that can linger for a second or more. Occasional fireballs, meteors brighter than the planet Venus, can flash green or orange as they break apart. The meteors pose no danger to people on the ground.

Expectations should stay realistic. The American Meteor Society says that "In exceptional years, such as 2006–2009, peak rates were comparable to the Perseids." Those outbursts were unusual, and this year's moonlight will hold totals down.

Dark-Sky Tips for City and Suburban Watchers

Light pollution is the second-biggest obstacle after the moon. Viewers near Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, or other large metro areas will see more meteors by driving 30 to 60 minutes away from city lights to a park, rural road pull-off, or open field. State parks and national parks often allow pre-dawn stargazing, but check access rules and gate hours before going.

Plan for the cold. Late-October mornings can be chilly across much of the country, so bring layers, a blanket, and a warm drink. Kids can enjoy the show too, especially if the family treats it as a short pre-dawn outing rather than an all-night vigil.

Photographers should use a tripod, a wide-angle lens, and long exposures of 15 to 30 seconds, then take many frames in a row to improve the odds of catching a streak.

Stay safe when heading out at night. Tell someone where you are going, park fully off the road, and avoid trespassing on private land. If you plan to watch from a beach or trailhead, check local closure notices.

The bottom line is that the Orionids peak tonight into Thursday morning, Oct. 22, with the darkest viewing after moonset and before dawn. Expect up to about 10 to 20 meteors an hour from a dark site, pieces of Halley's Comet burning up at about 41 miles per second.

What Readers Want to Know

When do the Orionids peak in 2026?

NASA says the peak is the night of Wednesday, Oct. 21, into Thursday morning, Oct. 22. The broad peak means nearby mornings can also be good.

What time should I go outside?

After the moon sets, usually a few hours after midnight, until dawn starts to brighten the sky. For most U.S. locations, about 3 to 5 a.m. local time works well.

How many meteors will I see?

About 10 to 20 an hour at best from a dark site, fewer from cities or while the moon is up.

Where should I look?

Look high and wide across the sky, not directly at Orion. The meteors radiate from near Betelgeuse in the southeastern to southern sky before dawn.

What causes the Orionids?

Earth passes through dust left by Halley's Comet, which orbits the Sun about every 76 years.

Do I need a telescope?

No. Your eyes work best. Telescopes and binoculars narrow your view too much.

What if it is cloudy?

Try Friday morning, Oct. 23. The shower remains active for weeks, though rates drop after the peak.