Skywatchers are in for something special after dark from Monday, October 20 to Tuesday, October 21, when the annual Halley's Comet meteor shower reaches its peak as two newly discovered comets reach their brightest points in the night sky.
According to American Meteor SocietyThe Orionid meteor shower runs from November 2 to 7, peaking from October 20 to 21. This coincides with a new moon – when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun and absent from the night sky – meaning the rare celestial show should benefit from the deep darkness. However, clear weather will still be required to see the meteors and shining comets. Lemon (C/2025 A6) and SWAN (C/2025 R2).
The Orionids are a product Halley's Cometwho was last seen in the inner solar system in 1986, and will next be seen in 2061. Another meteor shower caused by Halley's Comet is the April Eta Aquariids.
Although the Orionid meteor shower will be best seen after midnight on Tuesday, October 21, the comet viewing window will occur much earlier the evening before. Both comets will be in the night sky after sunset and will be best seen an hour and a half after sunset – mostly binoculars for stargazingbut perhaps also with the naked eye, when viewed from a dark sky location.
Comet Lemmon, discovered in January by Mt. The Lemmon SkyCenter in Arizona's Santa Catalina Mountains will lie low in the northwest between the tip of the Big Dipper's handle and the bright star Arcturus. Comet SWAN, first discovered in September NASAThe orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory will be low in the south, just below the bright star Altair, one of three stars in the famous Summer triangle form.
