How to see the Orionid meteor shower without a telescope

The Orionid meteor shower has arrived, and during its peak from Oct. 21 through Oct. 22, you might just get a spectacular view. 

The moon will, thankfully, not be outshining the Orionids this year during their peak, and there’ll be plenty of activity before and after the night of Oct. 21 and 22, with the shower being visible through all of October and part of November. That means if you were stymied by dud showers this summer — with the Perseids and Draconids both rendered faint by full moons — October might just be your chance to see some celestial fireworks.

Here’s a quick stargazing guide, and a reminder about just what the Orionids actually are.

What are the Orionids?

The Orionids are basically a trail of tiny ice crystals and space dust given off by a comet you may have heard of: Halley’s Comet. The iconic comet’s long, grain-of-rice-shaped orbit takes it way out past Neptune’s orbit and back to our vicinity roughly every 76 years, and it won’t be back to replenish its dust trail (the Orionids) until 2061. But we on Earth still smash into the Orionids every year when we pass through the trail, and the collision is head-on, unlike other meteor showers, which can make for a more exciting display, including the occasional fireball.

The dust specks are called Orionids because their “radiant point” in the sky is next to the constellation Orion — but this does not by any means suggest that the meteors come from Orion. Think of it this way: The meteors are like a trail of bugs; Earth is like a car; and the windshield of the car is our atmosphere. The point in the sky where the “bugs” hit the “windshield” is the same spot where you would look to see the constellation Orion, which is why it’s roughly the “radiant” point, even though the nearest star in Orion is 17 lightyears away, and the meteors are just 60 miles over our heads when they become visible.

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

If it’s not cloudy where you are during the wee hours of the morning of October 21 and 22, you’ll just need to look up and direct your gaze generally toward the southwest, allow your pupils to adjust to the dark, keep your phone in your pocket, and enjoy the view for a few minutes. If you just have 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 a blanket to lie on

• Patience 

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

• Right ascension: 5 hours 

• Declination: + 5 degrees

• Earth latitudes between 85 and -75 degrees will be able to 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 feel like it) 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 keep in mind that if the sky is clear, and dark, you’ll see the Orionids all over the sky, not just near the radiant. 

Final note on meteor shower photography: If you want to take photos or videos of the meteors, your phone’s camera is the wrong tool for the job. For the most part, you need a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera that can take long exposure shots. Opening your camera app, or any apps other than carefully designed stargazing apps is unwise, as it risks temporarily ruining your night vision. So just keep your phone out of your hand if at all possible.