Skywatchers in the Philippines and around the world are in for a celestial treat as the Orionid meteor shower, produced by debris from Halley’s Comet, reaches its peak in the early hours of October 21, 2025.
The annual event, one of two major meteor showers linked to the famous comet, will occur under near-new-moon skies, offering dark conditions ideal for spotting shooting stars. During the peak, observers can expect to see up to 20 meteors per hour if weather and viewing conditions cooperate.
According to astronomers, the best time to view the Orionids in the Philippines is between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., when the constellation Orion rises high in the eastern sky and the moonlight is minimal.
“You don’t need special equipment to enjoy the show, just a dark spot away from city lights,” said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in Minnesota. “Weather permitting, it will be a great display.”
Halley’s Comet passes near Earth roughly every 75 years, leaving behind a trail of dust and ice that the planet crosses twice a year. This debris produces both the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in May and the Orionids in October.
When these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, friction with the air causes them to heat up and vaporize, creating bright streaks of light across the sky. Sometimes these “shooting stars” leave glowing trails that linger for several seconds.
To maximize visibility, astronomers advise watching after midnight, when the sky is darkest and the radiant point of the shower is highest. Avoid bright lights, allow your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, and look up rather than at your phone for the best chance to catch the fleeting flashes.
The Orionid meteor shower will continue until November 7, though the number of visible meteors will gradually decrease after the peak. The next notable display, the Southern Taurids, is expected to peak around November 5 under a brighter, full moon.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
