Orionid meteor shower to streak across night sky this week
The Orionid meteor shower is active from October 2 to November 7, with its peak occurring overnight from October 21 to 22. This annual event is caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley's Comet, resulting in fast-moving meteors visible to the naked eye. Viewing conditions in the UK are expected to be mixed, with the best prospects for clear skies in southern and eastern England.
- ▪The Orionid meteor shower peaks between midnight and dawn on October 21 and 22, 2025.
- ▪Meteors from this shower enter the atmosphere at approximately 41 miles per second, creating glowing trails.
- ▪Under ideal conditions, observers can expect to see between 10 and 20 meteors per hour at the peak.
- ▪Halley's Comet, the source of the debris, was last visible from Earth in 1986 and is not expected to return until 2061.
- ▪The waxing gibbous moon during the peak may obscure fainter meteors, though brighter ones will remain visible.
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Orionid meteor shower to streak across night sky this weekImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Orionid meteor shower observed in the night sky above China on October 22, 2025 ByEmily WoodBBC WeatherPublished4 minutes agoOne of the best-known meteor showers of the year is returning to our skies this week, as the Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley's Comet.The Orionid meteor shower is active from 2 October until 7 November and will peak overnight from 21 to 22 October.The display occurs at around the same time each year as the Earth passes through a trail of dust and debris left behind by Halley's Comet.The best time to spot the meteors will be between midnight and dawn, when the sky is at its darkest.What are the Orionids?As tiny particles from the comet enter the…
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