Orionid Meteor Shower Lights Up Night Sky: How And Where To Watch The Celestial Display

Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 21:44 IST

The Orionids meteor shower, originating from Halley’s Comet, peaks Tuesday night with up to 15 meteors per hour visible worldwide. Comet SWAN and Comet Lemmon may also be spotted.

A meteor of the Orionid Meteor Shower, created by remnants of Halley's Comet which pass through the earth's atmosphere, streak through the night sky past Halley's Comet, above the San Rafael Swell outside Green River, Utah, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Stargazers across the world have the best chance to catch the annual Orionids meteor shower on Tuesday night if local weather conditions permit. The Orionids meteors are fast-moving, travelling at a speed of around 66 kilometres per second. They streak across the sky with long, bright trails and originate from the well-known Halley’s Comet as it follows its orbit around the Sun. The comet itself only passes close to Earth roughly every 75 years, with the next visit expected in the summer of 2061.

The Orionids can be seen in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres during the hours after midnight. How best to view them depends on which hemisphere you are in, according to a report by broadcaster BBC. NASA suggests anyone hoping to see the shower to lie flat on their back, with feet facing southeast in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast in the Southern Hemisphere and look up at the sky. According to the American Meteor Association, the only obstacles to seeing them are cloud cover and city lights.

Taking place some 97 kilometers above Earth, the Orionids are often one of the most impressive meteor showers of the year, known for their speed and brightness.

As Earth passes through debris left behind by the comet, tiny particles, often no larger than grains of sand, burn up in the atmosphere, leaving luminous streaks across the night sky. Some meteors may appear faint, while larger ones produce bright trails. On occasion, meteors can even outshine the planet Venus; these are called fireballs.

Rare Comets To Be Seen

Skywatchers may also get a glimpse of Comet SWAN or Comet Lemmon, as both pass relatively close to Earth this week. Comet SWAN completes one orbit around the Sun every 22,554 years, while Comet Lemmon takes 1,350 years.

The radiant, or the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate, is the constellation Orion. Orion rises in the east after midnight, just north of its red-tinged star Betelgeuse. To locate Orion, look for the line of three bright stars closely aligned — the familiar Orion’s Belt.

The intensity of the display is measured by the zenithal hourly rate — the number of meteors visible per hour. During the peak of the Orionids around October 22, observers may see roughly 15 meteors per hour, moving at speeds of 238,000 kilometres per hour.

For the best viewing experience, the broadcaster and spaces agencies suggest finding a dark spot away from city lights with an open, unobstructed view of the sky. They also said that one should allow their eyes to adjust to the dark, lie back and look toward Orion. No binoculars or telescope are needed, as the shower is visible to the naked eye.

News viral Orionid Meteor Shower Lights Up Night Sky: How And Where To Watch The Celestial Display

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