One of the 'Most Beautiful' Meteor Showers of 2025 Just Began, According to NASA-and It Can Be Seen Across the U.S.

"The Orionid meteor shower happens once a year when Earth travels through debris left behind by extraterrestrial icon Halley's Comet when it soared through the sky in 1986. According to NASA, Orionid's shooting stars are particularly bright and fast, with glowing trails that can last from several seconds to minutes-and they're "considered to be one of the most beautiful showers of the year.""

"The autumnal shower gets its name from the constellation Orion. Meteors will appear to come from the shower's point of origin, or radiant, near Orion. Viewers should look toward the southeastern horizon in the Northern Hemisphere and the northwest horizon in the Southern Hemisphere. To see the longest glowing debris trains, set your gaze 40 degrees above the radiant after allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark for 30 minutes."

The Orionid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through debris from Halley's Comet, producing bright, fast meteors with glowing trails lasting seconds to minutes. The shower peaks in late October, with 2025's peak expected to be especially luminous because the moon enters a new, darker phase on Oct. 21. The radiant lies near the constellation Orion; observers should face southeast in the Northern Hemisphere and northwest in the Southern Hemisphere. For longest glowing debris trains, look about 40 degrees above the radiant after allowing 30 minutes for eyes to adjust to the dark. Activity runs Oct. 2–Nov. 12, peaking Oct. 20–21 with up to 20–30 meteors per hour in ideal conditions.

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