See the Halley’s Comet Orionid meteor shower peak tonight

See one of autumn’s best meteor showers at its peak tonight.

By Iain Todd

Published: Saturday, 21 October 2023 at 10:25 AM

Step outside and observe the Orionid meteor shower tonight and you’ll be seeing one of autumn’s best meteor showers at its peak.

Tonight is the best time to see the 2023 Orionid meteor shower, as the shower reaches peak activity this evening and into the early hours of Sunday.

The Orionids occur every year from 2 October – 7 November just as the nights are beginning to get longer and darker, and are one of the best autumn meteor showers.

The best time to see the Orionid meteor shower is from 23:00 BST (22:00 UT) on 21 October to 06:00 BST (05:00 UT) on 22 October.

For the full picture, read Pete Lawrence’s fantastic guide to the Orion meteor shower, and scroll down for Orionid top tips

Chart showing the location of the radiant of the Orionid meteor shower 2023. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Orionid meteor shower quick facts

During the Orionid meteor shower peak this weekend, the Moon will set just before 23:00 BST (22:00 UT).

This is a good thing! It means the sky will be nice and dark, and you’ll see more meteors.

The Orionid meteor shower is a firm favourite when the Moon is out of the way.

Meteor showers are caused when Earth passes through the dust stream left behind by a comet (or sometimes an asteroid) when it orbits the Sun.

An Orionid meteor in Bayingolin, China, 21 October 2020. Photo by Xue Bing/VCG via Getty Images

Tiny particles burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, creating a meteor shower display, and peak activity occurs when Earth passes through the densest part of the stream.

The shower ‘radiant’ is the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to emanate.

The Orionid meteor shower is caused by the dust stream of comet 1P/Halley – Halley’s Comet.

Its radiant is close to the constellation Orion, meaning Orionid meteors appear to come from this direction.

For more on this, read our guide what causes a meteor shower.

Constellation Orion. Credit: David Wall / Getty Images — Orionid meteors appear to emanate from the constellation Orion. Credit: David Wall / Getty Images

Tips for observing the Orionid meteor shower

Lying or reclining is a great way to observe meteor showers without getting cramp in your neck. Here, meteor watchers await the Perseid peak of 12 August 2018 at the Rocky Mountain National Park in the US. Credit: STAN HONDA / AFP via Getty Images.

Find a location that’s dark, away from light pollution
Wrap up warm, as meteor observing can get chilly
Use a reclining chair to help prevent neck cramp when looking up
Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness so you can see better
Observe in a group and take turns to note down a record of what you see
Look 60° up in the sky in any direction
The radiant is close to Betelgeuse
If you can trace the trail of a meteor back to Orion, chances are you’ve seen an Orionid meteor

Did you spot an Orionid meteor? Let us know by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com