Orionids expected to peak overnight October 21-22

The Orionid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight October 21-22, 2026, with the best viewing forecast for the hours before dawn after the Moon sets. The annual shower is active from October 2 through November 7, but moonlight is expected to make fainter meteors harder to see earlier in the night. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, the Orionids could produce about 10 to 20 meteors per hour. That figure is an estimated rate, not a promise of how many any observer will see. Actual sightings will depend on local weather, moonlight, light pollution and other viewing conditions. For observers in India, the early hours of October 22 are expected to offer the best opportunity. Suggested viewing times are about 2:20 to 5:40 a.m. in Delhi and 3:30 to 5:15 a.m. in Mumbai. These are location-specific windows, and visibility may vary with local conditions and moonset. The Moon is expected to obscure some of the dimmer streaks before it sets. Waiting until after moonset and watching before dawn should provide darker skies, though the precise timing differs by location. Skywatchers are advised to choose a safe place away from artificial lights and give their eyes time to adjust to the...