Orionid meteor shower set to peak on 22 October in New Zealand and Australia
Stargazers have their best chance before dawn, after the Moon sets. Astronomers expect bright moonlight to obscure fainter meteors earlier in the night.
The Orionid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight on 21–22 October 2026 in New Zealand and Australia, giving stargazers their best chance before dawn to see meteors from debris left by Halley’s comet. Bright moonlight is expected to make fainter meteors harder to spot earlier in the night.
When to watch the Orionids in New Zealand
In New Zealand, Te Whatu Stardome expects the peak on the night of Wednesday, 21 October, and early Thursday, 22 October, RNZ reported. For viewers in Auckland, Stardome identified the hours before dawn, especially after the Moon sets, as the best time to watch. A dark place away from city lights will improve the view.
Stardome said ideal conditions could bring about 10 to 20 meteors an hour, according to RNZ. The bright Moon this year could hide some of the fainter ones. The meteors can be seen with the naked eye, although viewers may need to wait up to half an hour to spot one.
Best viewing times in Australia
In Australia, amateur astronomer Ian Musgrave advised trying the early mornings of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, ABC Science reported. He put the best chance around Thursday’s peak: from about 4am local time on the east coast and 6am on the west coast, in a place with as little light pollution as possible.
Musgrave estimated that observers under dark skies could see roughly one meteor every four to five minutes between 4am and 5am. ABC reported that the near-full Moon would wash out much of the display earlier in the night, while moonset should leave a darker sky for early risers.
Where the meteors come from
The Orionids occur as Earth passes through a trail of debris left by Halley’s comet. Stardome advised New Zealand observers to look northeast after moonset, while noting that meteors can streak across the wider sky even though they appear to come from the direction of Orion, RNZ reported. ABC advised Australian observers to look towards the northern sky, near the area below Orion’s belt.
University of Southern Queensland astronomer Jonti Horner told ABC that the Orionids overlap with the Taurid shower. He described the Orionids as relatively swift and the Taurids as slower, giving observers a chance to see both kinds of meteor. Horner said the Geminids, expected to peak in mid-December, offer a stronger prospect of a good display if skies are clear.
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Sources and context
- The 2026 Orionid meteor shower is here - when and how to see itRNZ (Radio New Zealand), RNZ Digital reporters
- How to catch the peak of the Orionid meteor shower this weekABC News / ABC Science
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.