<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A meteor shower lit up Australia's skies last night, but don't worry if you missed out – there's still plenty of time to see the Orionids meteor shower.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The annual shower comes around every October and runs for multiple weeks, meaning there's plenty of opportunity to spot its shooting stars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's everything to know about the Orionids meteor shower and how to see it in Australia.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/celestial-events-australia-2025-lunar-eclipses-meteor-showers-supermoons-explainer/52c025c5-9f35-4801-a209-05e7b15bb94a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Your guide to Australia's skies: The lunar eclipses, meteor showers and celestial events happening in 2025</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Can you see the Orionids meteor shower in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yes, the Orionids meteor shower is visible across the southern hemisphere, including here in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Swinburne astrophysicist Dr Sara Webb said this week will be Aussies' best chance to see a shooting star.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/orionid-meteor-shower-australia-best-viewing-times-how-to-watch-everything-to-know-explained/23d47b3d-8f5f-4498-89a8-764c99df71a6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With the Orionids peaking this week, it's a perfect opportunity to head outside, away from city light and soak up the universe for an hour or so," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Look in the direction of the Orion constellation, a very easy one to spot with your naked eye, or via the help of a night sky app."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is also visible in the northern hemisphere.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What causes the Orionids meteor shower?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Orionids meteor shower is named for the constellation Orion, as the meteors appear to radiate from the same area of the sky where the constellation is located.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it is caused by the comet 1P/Halley crossing Earth's orbit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The comet leaves debris in its wake, which Earth passes through, creating the Orionids meteor shower.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When you spot the shooting star, you'll be looking at a bit of cosmic debris left behind from a comet burning up in our Earth's atmosphere," Webb said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And this is not the only meteor shower caused by Halley.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is also created by debris from the same comet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That meteor shower occurs in May and is also visible from Australia, so keep an eye out in 2026.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Though both meteor showers are caused by Halley's Comet, the comet itself is rarely visible from Earth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was last seen in Earth's skies back in 1986 and won't be visible again until 2061.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a 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https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/LsVmRO0c25TUmHZhPxjkQ0ws3cY=/0x662:1600x1562/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F726ea032-e6d9-42d2-9469-ae7ab08fd07f 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Astronaut returning to earth shares mind-blowing images of the cosmos</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/04/20/09/46/astronaut-view-from-space-in-photos">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What to expect</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During the Orionids meteor shower, meteors appear as flashes of light moving across the sky – or, in plain English, shooting stars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The meteors often originate in the area of the sky near the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How many meteors will I see?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour in the Orionids meteor shower.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Generally, the number of meteors visible in the sky decreases each night after the peak until the shower ends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is the best time to see the Orionids meteor shower?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Technically, the best time to see it was last night – but that doesn't mean you've missed out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Orionids meteor shower started on October 2, peaked on the night of October 21-22, and will remain active until early November.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That means meteors will still be visible for the rest of the month, though the frequency will decrease over time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The shower will officially end around November 7.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/donald-trump-kevin-rudd-clash-albanese-praises-ambassador/8fd38add-c4d4-40a1-9f8a-53706ff6171a" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Is he a nice guy?': Albanese reveals new details of Trump encounter</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Where can you see the Orionids meteor shower best in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The best place to see the Orionids meteor shower from Australia is from a secluded area away from bright city lights.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pick somewhere with a clear view of the sky and check the weather forecast, as you need a clear sky to spot meteors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A meteor shower sky map can help you locate the radiant (area where most of the meteors will appear from) and then it's just a waiting game.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>When is the next meteor shower in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another meteor shower is already on the horizon: the Leonids.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Leonid meteor shower will start around November 6, peak around November 17 or 18, and wrap up by the end of the month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will be visible from both hemispheres, meaning Australians who miss the Orionids will get another chance to witness a meteor shower soon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After the Leonids, other meteor showers that will be visible from Australia include the Geminids in December, the Lyrids in April, and the Eta Aquarids in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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