Marylanders and other skywatchers can look for the October 2026 meteor shower overnight Wednesday, when the Orionid meteor shower is expected to peak. Anthony Burrows of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said viewers could see up to 20 meteors per hour.
Burrows said the best chance comes in the early morning after the moon sets at 2:20 a.m. NASA considers the Orionid meteor shower one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year, and the viewing window is tight because the brighter moonlight fades only after that time.
Anthony Burrows on Maryland skies
Burrows wrote the Celestial Report for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and pointed readers to the overnight Wednesday peak. His guidance gives Marylanders a clear target: wait for the moon to set, then look up in the early morning for the highest odds of spotting the streaks.
The shower is tied to Halley’s Comet. The Orionids are remnants of that comet that burn up in the atmosphere, and the annual return gives fall skywatchers a repeatable show rather than a one-time event.
Why 2:20 a.m. matters
The limit on visibility is the tradeoff in this year’s display. Before 2:20 a.m., moonlight can wash out fainter meteors; after the moon sets, the sky should darken enough to make the shower easier to follow.
That leaves a narrower viewing window than many casual observers may expect. Burrows’ advice centers on the early morning because the increase in darkness, not the calendar date alone, gives the best chance to reach the forecast of up to 20 meteors per hour.
Orionid meteor shower in Maryland
For Marylanders, the practical next step is simple: plan for a late-night or early-morning viewing session, not an evening one. The peak falls overnight Wednesday, and the clearest look should come after the moon sets at 2:20 a.m.
If the sky stays clear, the shower offers a brief burst of activity rather than an all-night spectacle. The best viewing period starts when the moon is out of the way, and the first hour after that is the one most likely to reward patient observers.
