Orionoid meteors light up the Saudi sky at dawn on October 22

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The skies of Saudi Arabia and the Arab world are awaiting a remarkable astronomical phenomenon during the night of Wednesday, October 21, until dawn on Thursday, October 22, 2026, as the Orionids meteor shower reaches the peak of its annual activity, in a scene that may witness the appearance of about 20 meteors per hour under ideal monitoring conditions.

These meteors originate from the remains of the famous comet Halley, which during its travels around the sun left tiny particles in space, which cross the Earth’s path annually, and when they enter the atmosphere, they turn into rapid flashes of light.

The head of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah, Engineer Majid Abu Zahra, explained that the orionids are classified as moderately active meteor showers, pointing out that the rate of 20 meteors per hour represents a theoretical estimate in ideal conditions, and does not necessarily mean that this number will be actually seen.

According to Abu Zahra, the best chances of observing orionid meteors begin after midnight, and increase during the hours before dawn, when the radiance point of the meteors rises in the sky and viewing conditions improve.

However, the growing gibbous moon, whose illumination reaches about 74% during the peak night, may affect the clarity of the phenomenon, as its light obscures the less bright meteors.

Therefore, it is recommended to wait for the moon to set, as the sky becomes darker and the chances of seeing faint meteors increase before sunrise approaches, provided that the skies are clear and you stay away from lighting sources.

The opportunity to view orionids is not limited to the peak night, as their activity usually extends from October 2 to November 7, although the rate of meteor appearance decreases outside the period of highest activity.

Orionid meteors are characterized by their high speed, reaching about 66 kilometers per second, and some of them may leave short bright traces that last for moments after the meteor passes.

The phenomenon occurs when small particles left behind by Comet Halley enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, producing flashes of light as a result of their interaction with the gases surrounding them.

Superficially, the meteors appear to emanate from a region in the sky located within the constellation Orion, hence the name “Orionids.” However, this region, known astronomically as the radiant point, is not the true source of the meteors.

Meteors can be seen in different parts of the sky, and it is not necessary to look directly at the Orion constellation.

Watching orionid meteors does not require the use of a telescope or binoculars, as the naked eye is the most appropriate way to observe a wide area of ​​the sky.

Abu Zahra advises choosing a dark location far from city lights and roads, with an open field of vision that is not blocked by buildings or tall trees.

It is also preferable to give the eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the darkness, and avoid looking at bright phone screens during the monitoring period.

For those interested in astronomical photography, a camera mounted on a fixed stand can be used, with a wide lens and relatively long exposures, bearing in mind that capturing meteors depends on the timing of their appearance and location in the sky.

The orionids shower is associated with Comet Halley, one of the most famous periodic comets, which last returned to the vicinity of the sun in 1986, and is expected to return in 2061.

Although the comet is absent from Earth's sky at the present time, the particles it left behind along its orbit remain a source of annual astronomical phenomena, including orionid meteors.

This phenomenon gives residents of Saudi Arabia and the Arab world the opportunity to view the effects of the journey of a comet that passed near the sun decades ago, without the need for specialized astronomical equipment, although the quality of viewing this year will be affected by the brightness of the moon and sky conditions.