The Orionid meteor shower will start on October 3 and end on November 7 in 2025. The predicted peak of Orionids will fall on October 22, 2025 at 12:18 UTC.
The Orionid meteor shower is seen every year in mid-October, when our Earth passes through the debris of ice and dust left behind by the famous comet Halley in its orbit, according to NASA. So every Orionid meteor is the fragment of comet Halley.
The shower usually produces up to 26 meteors per hour during peak activity under clear, dark skies.
2025 will be an excellent year to see Orionids, as the slim waxing crescent moon will set in the early evening during the peak activity. So you will get an almost moonless night to observe Orionids.
Duration of peak activity
Unlike the Quadrantids in January or the Lyrids in April, there is no sharp peak of the Orionid meteor shower.
The peak activity of the Orionid meteor shower can last up to about four days, centered on the predicted peak, making it easier to observe.
When to see the Orionid meteor shower in 2025
Pre-dawn hours (at around 4 to 5 a.m. local time) of October 21 and 22 is the best time to see the Orionid meteor shower in 2025.
The point from where the Orionid meteor shower radiates in the sky, called the shower’s radiant, rises around midnight and reaches its highest point in the sky at dawn.
The radiant of the Orionid meteor shower climbs a decent height above the horizon at around 2 a.m. local time, so I will suggest you start watching Orionids (Orionid meteors) from pre-dawn hours (at around 2 a.m. local time) and continue it till dawn breaks.
You won’t see the Orionid meteor shower until midnight as the shower’s radiant is located below the horizon.
Where to look to see the Orionid meteor shower
The Orionid meteor shower radiates from the famous constellation Orion, the Hunter. Look high in the southeastern sky in the pre-dawn hours to spot Orion.
Three Belt stars in Orion, which form a straight line, are easily noticeable in the night sky even from light-polluted areas.
Not only the Orion’s Belt but also the bright star Sirius can help you to spot the radiant of the Orionid meteor shower. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, and the shower’s radiant is located above the bright Sirius.
However, I will suggest you don’t look at the constellation Orion only to see the Orionid meteor shower, as the meteors closer to the radiant have shorter trails and are difficult to observe. So move your gaze across the entire east, southeast, and south directions of the sky.
Visibility of the Orionid meteor shower
The Orionid meteor shower is most favorable to observers in the Northern Hemisphere, especially those located in the low-northern latitudes (from 10°N to 25°N).
Observers located in the low-northern latitudes will get the best view of the Orionid meteor shower, where the radiant reaches almost overhead in the sky (more than 80° altitude) in the pre-dawn hours.
However, the observers located in the mid- and high-northern latitudes will see a moderate display of this shower.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the further south you go, the more limited your observing window. So the observers located in the Southern Hemisphere will see a moderate to low display of this shower just before dawn.
How the Orionid meteor shower got its name
Meteor showers are usually named after a constellation in which the radiant lies during peak activity or after a bright star closest to the radiant.
The Orionid meteor shower got its name from the famous constellation Orion, as the shower’s radiant is located in the constellation Orion during peak activity.
How to observe the Orionid meteor shower
You don’t need any special equipment, such as a pair of binoculars or a telescope, to see the Orionid meteor shower. A meteor shower is best seen with the naked eye.
Find a safe, dark place away from city lights where a large portion of the sky is seen. Lie down or sit on a lawn chair and look straight up at the sky, facing roughly southeast.
It will take around 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, and don’t look at your cell phone as the bright light from its screen will interrupt your night vision.
Be patient, as the celestial show of the Orionid meteor shower will be visible until dawn breaks.
As the night progresses you will see more Orionid meteors and will reach its maximum value just before dawn.
References
Atlas of Meteor Showers – A Practical Workbook for Meteor Observers
Please bookmark Spaceandtelescope.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get latest space news, upcoming skywatching events and astronomy-related content.
