Charlotte could see 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour tonight as the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak.
The Orionids come from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, with Earth passing through the ancient dust stream each October. This year’s peak arrives tonight, Oct. 21, with another good viewing window early tomorrow morning just before dawn.
A bright waxing moon will wash out some meteors earlier in the night. The best chance comes several hours before sunrise, after the moon drops lower and the sky darkens.
For the best view:
- Watch before dawn tonight into Thursday
- Find a dark location away from city lights
- Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust
- Avoid looking at phones or bright screens
- Look across a wide section of sky
- Allow at least 30 to 60 minutes for viewing
Under ideal conditions, the Orionids usually produce around 10 to 20 meteors per hour. Exceptional years have produced 50 to 75 per hour, though recent displays have been closer to average.
The shower remains active through late November, but tonight offers one of the best chances to catch it.
