Don't miss the Orionid meteor shower peak overnight tonight under a moonless sky

A photograph of the Orionid meteor shower.

The Orionid meteor shower will bring lots of shooting stars in the night sky. (Image credit: David Hoffmann Photography/Getty Images)

Get ready stargazers! The Orionid meteor shower peak begins tonight, welcoming a spectacular natural light show that could see a flurry of shooting stars spawned by Halley's Comet brighten the dark, moonless sky.

The 2025 shooting stars can be seen from Oct. 2 to Nov. 7 as comet 1P/Halley. During that time, particles cast off from that ancient body collide with our planet at speeds of up to 41 miles per second (66 kilometers per second), burning up in a magnificent display as they're overwhelmed by the friction of atmospheric entry.

Nikon Z8

The new moon phase, meaning that there'll be smartphone astronomy app. Then, pick a patch of sky 40 degrees away in the direction of your local zenith, which is the point directly above your head. Remember, the width of your outstretched fist accounts for roughly 10 degrees in the night sky! Here, the meteor trails will be at their longest.

Be sure to allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark, and use a red light if needed in order to avoid ruining your night vision. Don't forget, we're in astronomical autumn now, so be sure to wrap up warm and to let someone know where you're observing from if you head to a remote dark sky location.

Infographic with a ref flashlight, woolly hat, flask and a deck chair.

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