Orionid Meteor Shower 2022: How to Watch It Peak in Night Skies

Thursday night through Friday morning is one of the special dates scattered throughout each year when skygazers can capture a meteor shower as a multitude of flares potentially explode in the darkness.

Meteor showers occur when our planet is caught in the debris field left by icy comets or rocky asteroids orbiting the sun. These small particles burn up in the atmosphere, resulting in blazing trails of light. The regularity of orbital mechanics means that each meteor shower occurs around the same time each year.

The latest shower is the Orionids. They have been active since September 26th and will last until November 22nd. However, they will peak on October 20-21, or Thursday through Friday morning

After hitting the outgoing trail of Comet Halley in May, Earth encounters the debris the comet leaves behind on its way to the Sun each October, creating the Orionid meteor shower.

It is a moderately heavy shower, typically producing 10 to 20 streaks per hour, although in exceptional years it can produce up to 75 per hour. The moon will be about 20 percent full this year, meaning visibility should be good. It will be viewable worldwide between midnight and 4 a.m. local time.

And there will be more meteor showers. Visit The Times’ list of major rain showers expected in 2022, or sync our curated collection of major space and astronomy events to your personal digital calendar.

How to see a shower

The best course of action is to go to the countryside and get as far away from artificial light sources as possible. People in rural areas may have the luxury of just getting outside. But city dwellers also have options.

Many cities have an astronomical society that maintains a special section for dark skies. “I would suggest contacting them and finding out where they are located,” said Robert Lunsford, the secretary-general of the International Meteor Organization.

Meteor showers are usually best seen when the sky is darkest, after midnight but before sunrise. To see as many meteors as possible, wait 30 to 45 minutes after arriving at your observing location. This allows your eyes to get used to the darkness. Then sit back and enjoy a wide view of the night sky. Clear nights, higher elevations, and times when the moon is faint or absent are best. Mr Lunsford suggested a good rule of thumb: “The more stars you can see, the more meteors you can see.”

Binoculars or telescopes are not necessary for meteor showers and will even limit your view.