Orionids
An October shower from material left behind by Halley’s Comet. Activity is moderate and spread over several nights around the peak, and the long autumn night leaves plenty of time.
Meteors enter the atmosphere at 66 km/s, which makes them very fast. The parent body is 1P/Halley.
Catalogue figures
- Active period
- 2 October - 7 November
- Nominal peak
- 21 October
- Radiant
- RA 6.3 h, dec 16°
- Entry velocity
- 66 km/s
- Parent body
- 1P/Halley
- Catalogue ZHR
- 20
ZHR is a catalogue reference value: the number of meteors an observer would see under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. It is not a forecast for any given year, nor a number you will count - real activity varies from year to year, and every obstacle (the Moon, a low radiant, light pollution) cuts it several times over.
Observing conditions 2026-2031
Computed for Warszawa as the reference point. "Radiant above 20°" counts the hours when astronomical night (Sun more than 18° below the horizon) and a high enough radiant overlap. The last column subtracts the time the Moon is above the horizon.
Select a peak date to open that night on the event map in the app.
The table scrolls sideways - it has seven columns.
| Peak | Moon | Radiant highest | Astronomical night | Radiant above 20° | Moon-free | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 October 2026 | 72% | 53.8° · 05:00 | 9.8 h | 5.5 h | 4.2 h | partly good |
| 21 October 2027 | 69% | 53.8° · 05:00 | 9.8 h | 5.5 h | 0 h | Moon interferes |
| 21 October 2028 | 11% | 53.8° · 04:50 | 9.8 h | 5.5 h | 5.5 h | good |
| 21 October 2029 | 98% | 53.8° · 04:50 | 9.8 h | 5.5 h | 0 h | Moon interferes |
| 21 October 2030 | 37% | 53.8° · 05:00 | 9.8 h | 5.5 h | 0.7 h | Moon interferes |
| 21 October 2031 | 25% | 53.8° · 05:00 | 9.8 h | 5.5 h | 5.5 h | good |
Plan the night
Check in Lunar Frame how high the radiant sits at a given hour from your own spot, and when the Moon rises and sets that night.
Open Lunar Frame →Where these numbers come from
Active period, nominal peak, radiant, velocity and ZHR come from the Lunar Frame shower catalogue. Moon illumination, the length of astronomical night and radiant altitude are computed with astronomy-engine for Warszawa; across Poland these differ by fractions of a degree, so one reference point describes the whole country.