Orionid meteor shower peaks over UK in late October

The Orionid meteor shower peaked over UK skies on the nights of 21 and 22 October 2026. The shower is active from early October through to early November each year, but the best displays happen around 21 October. At its peak, people could see between 10 and 20 meteors per hour. The meteors move very fast, travelling at around 41 miles per second. They come from tiny pieces left behind by Halley's Comet as it travels through space. Viewing was not perfect this year because a bright moon reduced visibility, and rain fell early on Wednesday night. However, skies cleared in many parts of the UK by late night and Thursday morning. The best views came from dark areas away from city lights, in the hours before dawn.