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Orionids Peak Under New-Moon Skies Tonight

Expect roughly 10–20 fast meteors per hour from Halley’s debris with best viewing late at night to before dawn.

Overview

  • Forecasts place the strongest activity between October 20–23, with many guides pointing to the nights of October 20–21 or 21–22 for the top rates.
  • EarthSky cites a local peak at 8 p.m. Monday in Miami, and American Meteor Society guidance notes activity remains strong on the following nights if clouds interfere.
  • A New Moon on October 21 provides unusually dark skies that improve visibility for observers in both hemispheres.
  • Regional advice for Mexico recommends watching from about 1:00–5:30 a.m., with an optimal window near 3:00–4:30 a.m. when the radiant in Orion is higher.
  • These meteors are extremely fast at about 66 km/s, can leave persistent trains or occasional fireballs, and typical dark-sky counts cluster near 10–20 per hour though some sources cite broader historical ranges.