The Orionid meteor shower is active from October 2 to November 7, 2026, and peaks on the night of October 21–22, 2026, according to the American Meteor Society. In a normal year it produces about 10–20 meteors per hour at its maximum, although exceptional years such as 2006–2009 reached 50–75 per hour, comparable to the Perseids.
Moonlight will be a factor this year: the Moon will be a waxing gibbous about 74% illuminated on peak night, so expect significant interference while it is above the horizon. Brighter meteors can still be seen, and viewing is best from a dark site away from city lights.
Source: American Meteor Society, “Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 / 2027”.
Image: An Orionid meteor, by David Wipf (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.