The Orionid meteor shower peaks October 21-22, 2026. Here's how to watch it and how Galaxy Explorer Wheel tracks it.
Every October, Earth passes through a trail of dust shed by Halley's Comet centuries ago. This year's Orionid meteor shower peaks the night of October 21 into October 22, 2026, with some forecasts putting the exact peak as late as the early morning of October 23 — so the best viewing window really spans a few nights around then, not just one.
Under dark skies, the Orionids typically produce 15 to 25 meteors an hour at their peak, streaking outward from a point near the constellation Orion — hence the name. The shower is active for weeks (roughly October 2 through November 7), but the days clustered around the peak are when the rate climbs high enough to be worth setting an alarm for. Best viewing is generally between 2 a.m. and dawn, once Orion has climbed higher in the sky and moonlight isn't washing out the fainter streaks.
Galaxy Explorer Wheel already tracks a real meteor shower calendar, and it hands out bonus points specifically when a shower's radiant — the point in the sky the meteors appear to come from — is actually above your horizon and visible from your real location. The Orionids radiant sits near Orion's club, a constellation most of the Northern Hemisphere can find without much trouble, so this is one of the more accessible bonus windows the game tracks all year.
Spin Galaxy Explorer Wheel any night from early October through early November and you'll see if a shower bonus is active for your location. Around the October 21-22 peak, pull up the sky-matching overlay, find Orion, and just watch — you don't need the app pointed at the sky to see meteors, but it's a good way to confirm you're looking the right direction before you settle in.
Unlike most stargazing targets, meteor showers need nothing but your eyes, a dark-ish patch of sky, and patience. No telescope, no binoculars — just get away from bright lights, give your eyes 15-20 minutes to adjust, and look roughly toward Orion after midnight.
Check tonight's sky on Galaxy Explorer →
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