The Orionid meteor shower peaks in October – here’s how to dodge a bright moon and still catch it.

The Orionid meteor shower, made from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, is set to peak around 21–22 October. Last year’s display lined up with a new moon. This year there’s a catch: a waxing gibbous moon about three-quarters full on peak night, lighting up the sky for the first half of the night.

The good news is that the moon sets in the early hours, and the Orionids are at their best after midnight anyway. With a little planning, and an alarm set for the small hours, you can still catch them.

What are comets and meteor showers?

World-renowned astrophotographer and educator Adam Block, from the Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona’s Department of Astronomy, explains that comets are remnants from the early part of the solar system, made from both water ice and other frozen gases.

“Basically, you have a ball of rock with a trail of gas coming out behind it. It’s the sun that controls all of that; the solar wind blows the gas back," he tells Australian Traveller.

“But it’s not just gas; there are also particles of dust released and liberated from the surface of this dirty iceball."

That gas and dust particles released from the surface form a tail behind the comet, creating a trail in space. 

“If the Earth runs through that stream of dust, those dust particles will enter the Earth’s atmosphere at around 30 kilometres per second, so they literally burn up in the upper atmosphere," he says.

Simply put, the resulting light trail is the meteor.

The Orionids and Halley’s Comet

Halley’s Comet is one of the most famous comets of all. It was last seen from Earth in 1986 and returns roughly every 75 years, with its next appearance expected in 2061. The comet itself is far from view, but Earth passes through its trail of dust twice a year. The result is two meteor showers: the Eta Aquariids in May and the Orionids in October.

When is the best time to see the Orionids in 2026?

The Orionids are active from early October to early November. They peak on the night of Wednesday 21 October into the morning of Thursday 22 October.

According to Adam, the best time to watch is after midnight. That’s when your side of Earth faces the direction we’re travelling through space and runs directly into the meteoroid stream.

This year, timing matters more than usual. The darkest window runs from moonset until the sky starts to brighten before dawn.

The Orionids have a broad peak, so the surrounding nights are worth a look too. A few nights earlier, the moon is smaller and sets sooner, which gives you a longer stretch of dark sky, even if there are slightly fewer meteors. If a 2am alarm midweek isn’t realistic, the weekend of 17–18 October is a good alternative.

How to see the Orionid meteor shower

The good news, according to Adam, is that you don’t need a telescope or optical aid to witness the event; you just need “a dark sky, a clear view and some patience." The further you get from city lights, the better.

The meteors appear to radiate from Orion, the constellation many Australians know as the Saucepan, which rises in the east. You don’t need to stare at it, though. Meteors can show up anywhere in the sky, and those further from Orion tend to leave longer trails. Keep the moon behind you or blocked by a building or tree, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark.

Under dark skies, the Orionids typically produce around 20 meteors per hour at their peak. Moonlight will wash out the fainter ones this year, so expect fewer. Adam says you’re doing well if you see one every five or 10 minutes. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a fireball. Orionids are fast, hitting the atmosphere at around 66 kilometres per second, and the brightest can leave a glowing trail that lingers for a few seconds.