An awe-inspiring celestial show is headed to Earth—and you can still get a front-row seat.
The Orionid meteor shower happens once a year when Earth travels through debris left behind by extraterrestrial icon Halley’s Comet when it soared through the sky in 1986. According to NASA, Orionid’s shooting stars are particularly bright and fast, with glowing trails that can last from several seconds to minutes—and they’re “considered to be one of the most beautiful showers of the year.”
The enchanting spectacle peaks in late October, and thanks to the moon’s 2025 phases, this year’s climax is expected to be one of the most luminous on record. Orionid meteors will have the spotlight to themselves as the moon darkens from Earth while entering a new phase on Oct. 21.
The autumnal shower gets its name from the constellation Orion. Meteors will appear to come from the shower’s point of origin, or radiant, near Orion. Viewers should look toward the southeastern horizon in the Northern Hemisphere and the northwest horizon in the Southern Hemisphere. To see the longest glowing debris trains, set your gaze 40 degrees above the radiant after allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark for 30 minutes.
Since the radiant is near the celestial equator, it will be visible almost globally—but those in the Northern Hemisphere will likely get the most spectacular displays. The hemisphere’s crisp fall air means more visibility than in other parts of the world and better conditions than those during summer events like the Perseid meteor shower. Northerners will also be treated to longer viewing windows since the radiant’s appearance will be higher in the sky and therefore longer lasting.
You’ll have a few chances to catch the fireballs: Halley’s luminescent remains are active from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12. But the peak is predicted to take place between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, when up to 20 to 30 shooting stars per hour will be visible in ideal dark sky conditions. Optimal viewing in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres will be from midnight until dawn.
Although the showers will be visible from almost everywhere, head to a dark sky area for the best conditions. The U.S. will have some of the most dazzling views in the world, with western national parks like Joshua Tree, North Cascades, and Crater Lake among the best locations for visibility. Dry, clear weather and some of the world’s darkest skies in the Southwest also bode well for incredible viewing conditions. The Southeast will still get a show, but clouds and humidity may make it less intense.
The best locations for visibility on the East Coast include Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania, the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, and Maine’s Acadia National Park. Midwesterners should likewise venture to parks away from city lights, especially international dark sky areas like Illinois’ Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, Michigan’s Headlands International Dark Sky Park, and Wisconsin’s Newport State Park.
While Orionid activity is peaking in late October, viewers may get a bonus sighting: Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon). Comet Lemmon, a green comet from outside of our galaxy, was discovered in January 2025. It’s predicted to be closest to Earth between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, and, once again, the Northern Hemisphere will have the best vantage points.
You’ll want to snag this opportunity for a double feature since experts say Comet Lemmon won’t be visible again until the year 3421. If you care to spot Lemmon from the Northern Hemisphere, look towards the northwestern sky.
