The Orionid meteor shower is due to peak on the night of 21 October and into the morning of 22 October 2026. It can be seen from both hemispheres, including India, but the bright waxing Moon will obscure many of the fainter meteors this year, according to NASA’s October skywatching guide.
When should you look?
NASA recommends the hours after midnight. On the peak night, the most promising window is after the Moon has set and before dawn, when its glare is out of the sky. For Chennai, Time and Date’s October 2026 moonset table lists moonset at 2:22 a.m. on 22 October. Check the moonset time for your own location, since it will differ across India.
Find a safe spot away from bright streetlights with a broad view of the sky. Allow your eyes time to adjust to the darkness and look up rather than staring only at Orion. Meteors can appear across the sky. Cloud cover and local light pollution may further reduce what you see. NASA’s Orionids viewing guide recommends lying back and taking in as much of the sky as possible.
Why are they called Orionids?
The streaks are produced when Earth encounters small pieces of debris left by Halley’s Comet. They seem to spread out from the direction of the constellation Orion, which gives the shower its name, but Orion is not their physical source. NASA explains that the meteors can appear in other parts of the sky too.
Under dark skies, NASA lists about 10 to 20 Orionid meteors an hour near the peak. That is a general observing figure, not a promise for Chennai or for this Moon-affected night. The American Meteor Society’s 2026 calendar warns that moonlight will interfere while the Moon is above the horizon, although brighter meteors may still be visible.
