Orionids meteor shower explained

Published 21 October 2026 at 7:01 am IST · 10 sources · 200+ searches today

The Orionid meteor shower is trending in India because its 2026 peak is due overnight from 21 October into 22 October. As of 21 October 2026, viewers are asking when to look up, how many meteors to expect, and whether Halley’s Comet is returning now. The shower is caused by Earth passing through debris from 1P/Halley, not by the comet itself coming back this week.

What happened

The Orionid meteor shower is reaching its annual peak overnight from October 21 into October 22, 2026. This is why search interest is rising in India today, as people look for the best time to watch and whether the shower will be visible from their city.

The activity period is longer than one night. Orionids are active from October 2 to November 7, 2026, but the strongest display is concentrated around October 21–22 as Earth moves through the densest part of the debris stream.

Why it happens

The Orionids are caused by dust and debris left behind by 1P/Halley, better known as Halley’s Comet. When that debris enters Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up and produces the streaks of light we call meteors.

A common correction is important here: Halley’s Comet itself is not returning this week. The comet’s next actual return is expected in 2061, while the Orionids happen every year when Earth crosses its trail of debris.

Best time and expected numbers

The predicted peak is around 18:00 UTC on 21 October, which is about 3:30 a.m. IST on 22 October. The best viewing window is usually after midnight and before dawn, especially after the Moon sets.

Under dark, clear skies, observers may see roughly 10–20 meteors per hour. In cities, light pollution, clouds, haze and moonlight can reduce that number a lot, and NASA notes that moonlight may hide some of the fainter meteors in 2026.

What to watch next in India

Exact visibility will depend on local weather and sky brightness. Even at the peak, some parts of India may have poor viewing if clouds, haze or bright urban light are present.

Published city estimates suggest a possible window of about 2:20–5:40 a.m. for Delhi and about 3:30–5:15 a.m. for Mumbai on the relevant morning, but these are approximate and depend on local conditions. As of 21 October 2026, people are checking regional cloud forecasts and moon conditions before heading out.

Frequently asked

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.