Get ready, California skywatchers: The Orionid meteor shower, one of the year's best, is on the cusp of reaching its 2026 peak.
The Orionid meteor shower has been in full swing for much of October and is due to remain active into early November. But this week, the famed cosmic display is due to be at its most active state.
Considered one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, the Orionids are famed for producing streaking meteors that are as fast as they are bright. The Orionid meteor shower reliably kicks off each fall when Earth passes through the densest part of the debris path of the famous Halley's comet, which also happens to produce the ETA Aquarids in May.
Here's everything to know right now in California about the Orionid meteor
show ahead of its October peak.
When is the Orionid meteor shower active in 2026?
In 2026, the Orionid meteor shower first became active Oct. 2 and is due to remain active until Nov. 7, according to the American Meteor Society.
When is the Orionids' peak activity?
The Orionid meteors will peak in activity between Oct. 21-22 as Earth passes through the densest part of the associated comet's cosmic debris.
Photos of the Orionid meteor shower
How many meteors will be visible? What to know about fireballs
On average, the Orionids produce anywhere from 10 to 20 meteors per hour at their peak in mid- to late October, whizzing at about 41 miles per second, according to NASA.
Meteors that travel that fast often leave glowing trails of debris in their wake, which can last for a few seconds or even for several minutes. Oftentimes, Orionid meteors have the potential to become fireballs with prolonged explosions of light.
How full will the moon be? What to know about lunar phase
The bigger and brighter the moon, the more its light can interfere with your view of streaking meteors.
And unfortunately, the moon is getting bigger and brighter each night as we approach the full Hunter's Moon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. During the peak of the Orionids, the moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase as its dayside comes into view, NASA explains.
Weather, cloud forecast for California during peak activity
Of course, clouds in the sky could also hamper the views.
The National Weather Service shared a graphic showing the cloud forecast during the meteor shower's peak in California. Blue shading indicates clear skies, with areas with gray shading and higher percentage numbers having a higher chance for clouds.
Where are the best places to see meteor showers in California? Dark sky locations
The Orionid meteor shower is easily visible in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes California and the rest of the United States.
Want to try to catch the meteor shower before it peaks? Spectators will have the best luck at dark sky locations on cloud-free nights and away from city light pollution.
To find a dark area near you, turn to DarkSky International. The U.S. nonprofit maintains a list of designated dark sky communities around the world, including 179 in the United States.
That includes these locations in California:
- Joshua Tree National Park, 74485 National Park Drive Twentynine Palms, the famous park that straddles the boundary of two deserts. While the western half of the park is impacted by light from Palm Springs, the eastern wilderness area has some darkest night skies left in the region.
- Julian, California, a small village near the center of San Diego County known for clear, dark skies;
- Borrego Springs, California, a town Located 88 miles northeast of San Diego that is a favorite spot for star gazers;
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, a state park in southern California where plenty of undeveloped land keeps the area’s night skies relatively dark;
- Death Valley National Park, a famous park distant enough from the large cities of the southwest that the night sky above the desert floor is essentially pristine.
What time are meteor showers visible in California?
In general, the best time to see meteors is between midnight and dawn.
Visit the website Time and Date to find the best times and viewing directions for your location.
What causes the Orionid meteor shower?
Named after the constellation Orion, the Orionids are made up of leftover particles from one of the most famous comets: Halley’s Comet.
Every year, Earth passes through the comet's debris trail, resulting in the Orionid meteor shower when the broken bits of Halley disintegrates in our atmosphere at high speed to disintegrate and create bright streaks, according to NASA.
Halley, which takes about 76 years for each orbit of the sun, won't be seen again by casual observers until 2061 after it was last sighted in 1986.
But despite its rare appearance to us here on Earth, Halley's impact is still felt at least twice a year when we enter its debris path. Each time Halley returns to the inner solar system, its nucleus sheds ice and rocky dust into space that eventually becomes not only the Orionids every October, but the Eta Aquarids in May.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Orionid meteor shower peaks this week in California. How to watch
