When and where to observe the Orionids meteor shower on October 21

In October, Russians will see one of the most exciting astronomical phenomena — the peak of the Orionids meteor shower. The starfall, famous for its spectacular nature and accessibility to observations, will reach its maximum on October 21. About 15 meteors per hour will appear in the night sky at this time. Izvestia reports on the origin of the stream and when it is best to observe the Orionids in the fall of 2025.

Orionids Meteor Shower on October 21st

Meteor showers are natural phenomena where fragments of cosmic bodies such as comets or asteroids burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, creating bright streaks of light known as meteors or "shooting stars." These streams get their names from the constellation in which their radiant is located, a point in the celestial sphere from where meteors fly.

The Orionids are one of the most spectacular streams, whose radiant is located in the constellation Orion, just north of the bright star Betelgeuse. At this time of the year, the constellation is clearly visible in the night sky, and the Orionids can be observed on a clear, cloudless night. Meteors can appear all over the sky, but they are brightest in the area of the radiant from which they originate.

The average number of meteors is about 20-25 per hour, which makes this stream more active than many other meteor showers in autumn and winter. The Orionids are characterized by high speeds of up to 66 km/s, which is higher than, for example, the Perseids. The stream also pleases with its color diversity. The color of meteors varies from white to green and red.

Every year, the activity of the Orionids falls on the period from October 2 to November 7. Some of the meteors, flying through the night sky, leave bright shining trails of incandescent particles. They are visible from a few seconds to a minute. Often, some of the Orionids turn out to be bolides, the brightest meteors of high intensity.

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Origin of the Orionids Meteor Shower

The Orionids are made up of particles left by comet 1P/Halley, which is known as the only comet visible to the naked eye twice in its lifetime. Comet 1P/Halley is a short—period comet that completes a complete revolution around the Sun in 75-76 years. The last time it reached its closest approach to the star was in February 1986. Its next appearance is expected at the end of July 2061.

When the Earth crosses the orbital track of Halley's comet, its particles, ranging in size from grains of sand to small pebbles, collide with the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere, creating characteristic streaks of light. This phenomenon causes the particles to rub against atmospheric air, which causes them to heat up strongly, and their light glow becomes visible. These particles move at high speed and form one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year.

The history of the discovery and observation of the Orionids

Observations of the Orionids have been conducted since ancient times, but it was only in the 19th century that astronomers began to understand the nature of this phenomenon. In 1839, the American amateur astronomer Edward Herrick was the first to establish the periodicity of the meteor shower and associated it with a specific time interval in October. As early as 1864, the British astronomer Alexander Herschel confirmed its existence and predicted its next activity.

With the development of astronomy and the improvement of technology, it has become possible not only to observe meteors, but also to study them more accurately. In particular, it was possible to determine the speed of the meteor shower and its intensity. Modern observations show that the Orionid stream remains intense, and scientists continue to investigate its source, Halley's comet.

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When and where to observe the Orionids in October 2025

According to the Moscow Planetarium, in 2025, the peak of Orionid activity will occur on the night of the new moon, which will occur on October 21. The peak activity of the stream will occur at about 15:00 Moscow time and will reach 15 meteors per hour. The starfall will be clearly visible in both hemispheres in clear weather.

To search for meteors, you should choose a place where the radiant in the constellation Orion is located high above the horizon. To more accurately determine the position of the Orionids, you can use mobile applications for astronomical observations, such as Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight, which provide the ability to track the current activity of the stream in real time.

No special equipment is required to observe meteors. It is enough to find a place away from the glare of the city, where the night sky is the darkest and clearest. The moon will be in the new moon phase on this day, so its light will not interfere with observation.

However, it is important to consider the weather conditions. In some regions, short-term clouds and rains are expected on October 21, which may hinder visibility. To get up-to-date information about weather conditions, it is recommended to follow the local weather forecast on the day of observation.

Earlier, Izvestia told how to observe the Perseid meteor shower.