Orionid meteor shower 2022: How to see it without a telescope

The Orionid meteor shower has arrived and during its peak on October 21-22 you may have a spectacular view.

Fortunately, the Moon will not outshine the Orionids during their zenith this year and there will be plenty of activity before and after the night of October 21-22, with the shower visible throughout October and part of November. That means if you’ve been hampered by duds this summer – with the Perseids and Draconids both rendered weak by full moons – October might just be your chance to see some celestial fireworks.

Here’s a quick guide to stargazing and a reminder of what the Orionids actually are.

What are the Orionids?

The Orionids are basically a trail of tiny ice crystals and space dust emitted by a comet you may have heard of: Halley’s Comet. The iconic comet’s long, rice-grain-shaped orbit travels well beyond Neptune’s orbit and back near us about every 76 years, and it won’t be back until 2061 to replenish its dust trail (the Orionids). But We on Earth still crash into the Orionids every year as we go through the path, and the collision is head-on, unlike other meteor showers, which can make for a more exciting display, including the occasional fireball.

The dust grains are called the Orionids because their “radiating point” in the sky is next to the constellation of Orion – but this in no way indicates that they are meteors I’m from Orion. Think of it this way: the meteors are like a trail of bugs; The earth is like a car; and the windshield of the car is our atmosphere. The point in the sky where the “bugs” meet the “windshield” is the same point where you would see the constellation of Orion, making it about the “bright” point, even though the nearest star in Orion is 17 light-years away distant, and the meteors are only 60 miles above our heads when they become visible.

How can I see the Orionids on October 21st and 22nd?

If it’s not cloudy where you are in the early hours of October 21-22, all you have to do is look up and direct your gaze generally to the southwest, allow your pupils to adjust to the darkness, and your phone inside put it in your pocket and enjoy the view for a few minutes. If you just need to have a must-bring list, this might help:

• A dark sky, preferably miles from the nearest city or large suburb

• A comfortable folding chair or blanket to lie on

• patience

If you’re an avid stargazer, here are some key details (including coordinates via Space.com):

• Right Ascension: 5 hours

• Tilt: + 5 degrees

• Earth latitudes between 85 and -75 degrees can see the shower.

• And note that the radiant will be at its highest point in the sky around 2:00 AM.

If you don’t know how to find coordinates (or don’t want to), the astronomy app Sky Safari (or a free alternative) will do it for you. We recommend Sky Safari for its excellent app design and dark look with red features. But remember that in clear and dark skies you will see the Orionids anywhere in the sky, not just near the radiant.

Final Note on Meteor Shower Photography: If you want to take photos or video of the meteors, your phone’s camera is the wrong tool for the job. In most cases, you will need a single lens reflex (SLR) camera capable of long exposure photography. It is unwise to open your camera app or any other apps as carefully designed stargazing apps as it might temporarily ruin your night vision. So keep your phone out of your hand whenever possible.