October 2026
NASA lists this as the peak night. The shower is active from 2 October to 7 November; the peak is a window of stronger activity, not an appointment for one meteor.
A little light from a comet’s trail
Orionids 2026: when, where and how to see them
A tiny piece of Halley’s past. A brief streak in your sky.
This year’s window
The night of 21 October, into 22 October
Let the Moon leave first
For 2026, NASA suggests the hours before dawn after moonset: a bright waxing gibbous Moon hides fainter streaks. Check moonset and sunrise for your location; there is no single worldwide clock time.
Both hemispheres
NASA’s starting direction is southeast in the Northern Hemisphere, northeast in the Southern. Take in a broad patch of sky. Orion is the apparent starting point, not the place every streak appears.
NASA’s October 2026 viewing window · Find local Sun and Moon times at the U.S. Naval Observatory
Four local starting points
Orionids in Singapore, Sydney, London and Los Angeles
Planning the night of 21 October into 22 October? These are the next morning’s times. Start after moonset for less moonlight; the sky brightens during dawn, before the sunrise shown here.
| City | Moon sets | Sun rises |
|---|---|---|
| SingaporeUTC+8 | ||
| SydneyUTC+11 | ||
| LondonUTC+1 | ||
| Los AngelesUTC−7 |
City reference times from timeanddate.com, checked 8 October 2026. Daylight-saving offsets are included where applicable. Your horizon and exact location can shift rise/set times; use the calculator above for another place or date.
Moonset and sunrise sources for these cities
- Singapore: October Moon table · October Sun table
- Sydney: October Moon table · October Sun table
- London: October Moon table · October Sun table
- Los Angeles: October Moon table · October Sun table
Try a small discovery
How does a comet become a streak?
Choose a picture. Follow one little grain.
Simplified illustrations, not a sky chart, orbit model or prediction of sightings.
1 · Left behind
Halley leaves a dusty trail
The Orionids come from debris shed by Halley’s Comet. The grains remain in space; the comet doesn’t need to visit for us to see a shower.
2 · Earth passes through
The same trail, another year
Earth returns through the debris stream each year. That repeating encounter gives the Orionids their place in October.
3 · A moment of light
The streak happens in our air
A grain entering Earth’s atmosphere produces a meteor. Orion names the direction the streaks seem to come from; its stars aren’t sending the grains.
A gentle plan
Give your eyes a little time
Make room for the sky
Find a dark spot away from streetlights with a wide, unobstructed view. NASA suggests a blanket or reclining chair and about half an hour for your eyes to adapt.
Look wider than Orion
You can watch with your eyes; the useful view is broad, not magnified. Look for quick streaks across the sky, rather than keeping your gaze fixed on the radiant.
Expect pauses
Moonlight, cloud and city light affect what you see. A peak date isn’t a promise of a busy sky. A quiet spell can still be a lovely chance to notice the stars.
Check the cloud-cover forecast on Windy. Look up your location and viewing hour closer to the night; forecasts can change.
A different kind of map
Is this on the Fireballs map?
A fireball is a very bright meteor. Our map shows selected CNEOS records after events; it doesn’t predict a shower or tell you where to watch.
Explore recorded fireballsKeep the year in view
A recurring shower, changing conditions
This guide’s viewing notes are for 2026, updated . Dates and moonlight need a fresh look for another year.