Orionid meteor shower peaks next week: When and where to see it

The radiant point is the point in the sky from which meteors originate, and for the Orionids, this is the constellation Orion.

Orion rises in the east after midnight, just north of its red star Betelgeuse. To follow Orion’s footsteps, externalNote the line of three bright stars close together, known as Orion’s Belt.

The quality of the display is measured by how many meteors can be seen each hour; this is known as the hourly rate. During the peak of the Orionids, there could be as many as 15 meteors per hour moving at speeds of 148,000 miles per hour (238,000 km/h) around October 22.

For best viewing conditions, find a dark spot with unobstructed, wide, clear skies, away from city lights after midnight.

Let your eyes adjust to the darkness and look towards the constellation Orion. You won’t need binoculars or a telescope because the shower is visible to the naked eye.