The Orionid meteor shower, which has technically already begun, is considered one of the most beautiful and bright meteor showers of the year. And there is plenty of time to view it.
Here's everything people in North Carolina ― and the rest of the U.S. ― will want to know about the shower.
The Orionid shower began Sept. 26 this year. Earth will be passing through the meteor stream in space until Nov. 22. Measuring in at 148,000 mph, the Orionids are particularly fast, often leaving glowing trails in their wake. They are also known for producing huge fireballs that last for several minutes in the night sky.
Peak activity is still a few weeks away, but astronomy fans in Western North Carolina should prepare, as a waxing gibbous could interrupt peak
dates without prior planning.
What is the next meteor shower?
In October 2026, stargazers in the U.S. can see meteors from the Orionid meteor shower whizzing overhead at about 41 miles per second, producing anywhere from 10 to 20 meteors per hour at their peak in mid-to-late October, according to NASA.
Meteors that travel that fast often leave glowing trains 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.
When is the next meteor shower? When does the Orionid meteor shower peak?
The entire duration of the Orionid meteor shower - when Earth passes through the meteor stream in space - is Sept. 26-Nov. 22, according to the astronomy website EarthSky.org.
The predicted peak of the meteor shower is 2 p.m. on Oct. 21. However, the Orionids are known for several days of peak viewing, meaning that meteors may be visible several nights around Oct. 21.
What is the best time to see the Orionid meteor shower?
In general, the best time to see the meteor shower is between midnight and the pre-dawn hours. However, as noted by EarthSky, a waxing moon will be up for most of the night during peak dates. A dark window in which the moon will be below the horizon will fall just before dawn.
What causes the Orionids? Are meteor showers 'shooting stars '?
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and other space objects as they orbit the Sun. The debris ― space rocks known as meteoroids ― collide with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrate, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
Those resulting fireballs, better known as "shooting stars," are meteors. If meteoroids survive their trip to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere, they are called meteorites, NASA states.
And the Orionids' parent comet is perhaps the most famous in history: Halley’s Comet. 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.
Where can I see the Orionid meteor shower? How to see the Orionids
Named after Orion because the meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the same area in the sky as the constellation, the Orionids are also framed by some of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Despite the meteor shower's namesake, astronomers advise spectators to avoid looking toward the constellation Orion if they want to get the best views. The meteors are visible anywhere in the night sky, particularly ‒ if you want to get technical ‒ 45 to 90 degrees away from the radiant, according to NASA.
Here are some other general viewing tips from NASA:
- Find an area far from the city or street lights and other light pollution.
- Bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair and lie on your back.
- If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the contiguous United States, have your feet face southeast and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
"In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors," NASA explains. "Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse."
Are there dark sky locations in North Carolina?
DarkSky International is a U.S. nonprofit that maintains a list of designated dark sky communities around the world, including 165 in the United States.
Here are the North Carolina locations listed on the DarkSky.org map, including several in the Western region of the state:
- Cape Lookout National Seashore, 1800 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC, 28531
- Mayland Earth to Sky Park, 66 Energy Exchange Drive, Burnsville, NC 28714
- Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, 1 PARI Drive, Rosman, NC 28772
- The Swag, 2300 Swag Road, Waynesville, NC 28785
- Cataloochee Ranch, 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC 28751
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Orionid meteor shower is here. See 2026 peak dates, more in Western NC
