The Orionids
Next peak: . The Moon will be 58% lit (waning gibbous).
- Active
- 10/02 to 11/07 (month/day)
- Peak rate (ZHR)
- 20 per hour
- Radiant
- RA 95°, Dec +16°
- Speed
- 66 km/s (very fast)
- Peak solar longitude
- 208°
- Parent body
- comet 1P/Halley
About the Orionids
The second of Halley's two annual showers. Orionids are among the fastest meteors, often leaving trains, and the shower has a broad maximum spread over several nights. Its radiant lies north of Betelgeuse, near the border of Orion and Gemini, which places it well for observers in both hemispheres.
When and where to look. After midnight, when Orion is up; the last hours before dawn are best.
Best viewing on the peak night
| City | Night of | Best time (local) | Radiant height | Rough rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Thu 21 Oct | 54° | up to ~16/h | |
| New York | Thu 21 Oct | 65° | up to ~18/h | |
| Los Angeles | Thu 21 Oct | 72° | up to ~19/h | |
| Singapore | Thu 21 Oct | 75° | up to ~19/h | |
| Sydney | Thu 21 Oct | 40° | up to ~13/h | |
| Cape Town | Thu 21 Oct | 40° | up to ~13/h |
Rough rate = ZHR × sine of the radiant altitude, at the darkest hour with the radiant highest. Light pollution and moonlight reduce it further.
Peak dates by year
| Year | Peak (UTC) | Moon |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0% | |
| 2026 | 79% | |
| 2027 | 58% | |
| 2028 | 13% |
Computed as the moment the Sun reaches ecliptic longitude 208° (equinox J2000), the peak position in the IMO working list.
