Looking for a peaceful autumn activity in California? This month, you can spend an evening under the stars watching the Orionid meteor shower streak across the night sky.
The annual meteor shower is active from October 2 through November 7, with its peak expected overnight on October 21–22, 2026. It’s one of the best excuses to bundle up, grab a blanket and head somewhere dark for an evening of stargazing.
The Orionids are created by debris from Halley’s Comet, which Earth passes through every year. When those tiny particles enter our atmosphere, they burn up and create the bright streaks we see as shooting stars.
When to watch the Orionids
The best chance to see the Orionids will be during the pre-dawn hours of October 22 after the Moon has set.
Under ideal dark-sky conditions, the shower can produce around 10 to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors are also known for being particularly fast, traveling through the atmosphere at roughly 41 miles per second.
There is one catch this year – a bright waxing gibbous Moon will make some of the fainter meteors difficult to see. NASA recommends looking during the hours before sunrise, after the Moon has set, when the sky will be darker.
Where to see the meteor shower in L.A.
For the best chance of spotting a meteor, get as far away from light pollution as possible.
You don’t need a telescope or special equipment. Find a comfortable spot with a wide-open view of the sky, turn off bright lights and give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
The meteors appear to come from the direction of the constellation Orion, which is where the shower gets its name. However, you don’t need to stare directly at Orion. Meteors can streak across almost any part of the sky.
Remember to give your eyes time to adjust before giving up. Meteor showers aren’t continuous, so you may have to wait a few minutes between sightings.
So grab a blanket, pack some snacks and find a dark spot to skygaze. The Orionids could be one of the prettiest ways to spend an autumn night in California.
Orionid Meteor Shower 2026
🌠Peak: October 21–22
🌠Best viewing: Pre-dawn hours, after moonset
