Quick Facts:
When is the Orionid meteor shower?
The shower begins late October 20 around midnight crossing over into Saturday, October 21.
*The peak of the Orionids will be at about 5:40 AM Pacific Time, Saturday morning.*
What's the best place to see them?
A city's light pollution generally makes it difficult to see all but the brightest meteors.
For the best viewing experience:
- Leave major city areas to escape city lights (deep suburbs are okay)
- Look for dark, high areas whenever safely possible
- Try to time your viewing party with the peak of shower on Saturday morning.
What if it's cloudy?
Bad weather will certainly hamper your ability to see anything in the sky. Fortunately, California is expecting clear skies and no visible moon during the peak, so the night will be about as dark as it can naturally get.
How many meteors can I see?
- This depends on the darkness of your viewing place. In decent-to-good settings, a realistic count could be 1-3 visible meteors per minute.
What's with the name?
The Orionid meteors are so-named because they can be seen most prominently in/around the Orion Constellation in the night sky.
Where did the Orionids come from?
The Orionids are actually grain-sized residual pieces of the famous Halley's Comet.