Meteor shower
Orionids 2027: when and where to see them
The Orionids peak on the night of 21–22 October 2027. Under a dark sky you could see up to 20 meteors an hour.
Is it clear for the Orionids tonight? Check your sky- Peak night
- 21–22 October 2027
- Meteors an hour (ZHR)
- up to 20
- Best time
- after midnight
- Moon
- 57% lit
- Radiant
- Orion
- Speed
- 66 km/s
The Moon this year
The Moon is 57% lit and up for most of the night. It will hide the fainter meteors, so expect fewer than usual and look away from it.
About the Orionids
The Orionids are the second shower from Halley's Comet each year. They are fast, and some leave trails that glow for a few seconds. The radiant, above Orion's raised arm near Betelgeuse, rises late in the evening, so the hours after midnight are best.
Where to look
The meteors seem to fly out of a point in Orion, the radiant, but they can appear anywhere in the sky. Look about halfway up, at a wide area of sky away from the Moon and street lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark.
How to watch
- Get away from town lights if you can. A dark sky shows several times as many meteors.
- Lie back on a mat or a reclining chair, so you can watch a big piece of sky without craning your neck.
- Keep your phone away, or use a red screen: one glance at a bright screen undoes your night vision.
- Dress warmly and be patient. Meteors come in bursts, with quiet spells in between.
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