Parts of an ancient comet will blaze across the sky this weekend as the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak, promising a bright display across the sky. This year, the Orionids will remain visible until Nov. 4.
“The Orionid meteor shower is the remains of the Halley’s Comet,” said Dillon Marcy, planetarium director at Georgia Southern University. “As it goes around the sun, Halley’s Comet leaves a trail of debris – and twice a year, Earth passes through that debris belt.”
Marcy compared the experience to “driving your car when it’s love bug season; you just happen to hit a big pocket of love bugs.” In this case, Earth is driving through space, colliding with tiny pieces of the comet’s leftover dust and ice that burn up in the atmosphere. These meteors create bright streaks of light.
The Orionids typically peak in mid-October each year, and are known for their speed and brightness. These meteors can leave glowing trails that last for several seconds, caused by the ionized gases and heated air created as they burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. “It’s one of the few meteor showers that actually has bright streaks – and a lot of them,” Marcy said, “It’s one of the more noticeable ones.”
How to View
The Orionids are best seen after midnight and before dawn. To catch the best view, find a dark, open area away from city or campus lights. Spots like the intramural field are ideal for viewing. Allow your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness before observing, and you’ll start to notice meteors streaking across the sky.
Marcy said that while the Orionids have already passed their peak for 2025, “there’s still a chance to see them until the first week of November. Go out after 11 p.m., look for Orion and his belt, then just above and left of Betelgeuse – that’s the radiant where all the meteors will start flying through the atmosphere.”
Even after the peak, Marcy noted that skywatchers can still expect to see about “10 to 20 streaks per hour.”
“Make sure you’re bundled up,” he added. “It might be in the 40s if you go look for it.”
Tip: Look toward the constellation Orion, near the southeastern horizon. No telescope is needed – just clear skies and patience.
Where it Comes From
The Orionids originate from Halley’s Comet, a periodic comet that orbits the Sun every 76 years. Its last appearance was in 1986, and it is expected to return in 2061. This comet’s connection to the Orionid meteor shower was first proposed in 1868, decades after American astronomer Edward Herrick formally described the shower in 1839.
“It’s connected to one of the most well-known comets,” Marcy said. “The chunks that came off of it are numerous enough and bright enough that they’re one of the medium-sized showers – bright, but not overwhelming. Every once in a while, depending on how much debris is in the belt, you can get up to 50 streaks per hour, if you’re lucky.”
Why It Captures Our Imagination
For many stargazers, the Orionids are an easy and rewarding celestial event to catch. “Staying up until 11 o’clock isn’t that hard to do,” Marcy said. “And if you wake up early enough, you can see a bunch of them. When I was a kid, my mom used to wake me up to see them at 6:30 – which was annoying then, but I appreciate it now.”
The bright, fast-moving meteors make the Orionids one of the most visible and memorable showers of the year. “You will see them,” Marcy added. “They’ll be significant streaks – not just faint flashes you might mistake for satellites.”
Up and Coming
Several more meteor showers are expected later this year. The Northern and Southern Taurids are currently active, and will peak in mid-November. The next major showers are the Leonids, peaking in late November, and the Geminids, reaching their height in mid-December.
The Georgia Southern Planetarium will continue hosting public shows throughout the semester. “We have at least one event per week,” Marcy said. “Our last big show of the year will be Saturday, Dec. 6 – it’s our Christmas holiday show.”
