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Orionid meteor shower peaks Oct. 21–22, 2026

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

U.S. Observers Watch Orionids

U.S. observers can watch the Orionid meteor shower peak overnight Oct. 21–22, 2026.
Meteors travel about 148,000 mph (?41 miles per second) as Earth passes Halley’s comet debris.
The American Meteor Society expects 10–20 meteors per hour, with occasional bright fireballs.
A 77% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will likely dim fainter meteors.
Viewers should find dark sites, let eyes adapt 20–30 minutes, and avoid the radiant after midnight.

Summary

Nor'easter Threatens Northeast

A nor'easter may bring cloud cover from New York City to parts of New England.
Tropical moisture could cause flooding on Wednesday and Thursday across California, Nevada, and the Four Corners region.
The central and eastern United States are forecast to have clear skies early Thursday morning.
Michigan’s six dark-sky state parks, three international dark-sky parks, and one sanctuary are expected to stay clear overnight Oct. 21-22.

History

Historical Context

The 1833 Leonid storm, producing over 100,000 meteors per hour and recorded across North America, convinced scientists like Denison Olmsted that meteors came from cometary dust, later identified as trails of Comet Tempel-Tuttle. That breakthrough paved the way for systematic observing campaigns. The Orionid peak on Oct. 21-22 2026, sourced from Halley’s comet, echoes this historic legacy.

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U.S. Observers Watch Orionids

U.S. observers can watch the Orionid meteor shower peak overnight Oct. 21–22, 2026.
Meteors travel about 148,000 mph (?41 miles per second) as Earth passes Halley’s comet debris.
The American Meteor Society expects 10–20 meteors per hour, with occasional bright fireballs.
A 77% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will likely dim fainter meteors.
Viewers should find dark sites, let eyes adapt 20–30 minutes, and avoid the radiant after midnight.

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