Shooting star magic: The Orionids light up the Baltic Sea coast!

Shooting star magic: The Orionids light up the Baltic Sea coast!

Autumn brings not only colorful leaves, but also a fantastic natural spectacle to the northern German sky: the Orionid meteor shower is just around the corner! This is a stunning phenomenon caused by the Earth crossing the orbit of Halley's Comet. The climax of this spectacular event will be reached on the night of Tuesday, October 21, 2025, when an impressive 20 to 25 shooting stars per hour will be visible under ideal conditions.

The Baltic Sea coast in particular offers excellent observation conditions, and the new moon on October 21st also ensures that weaker meteors can be better seen. In addition to the north side of Usedom, recommended places are also the east side of Rügen, the east coast of the Darß and the coastal sections between Greifswald and Stralsund. For the best experience, observers should have at least 20 minutes of patience to acclimate to the darkness.

Watching tips for the Orionid meteor shower

The Orionids are active from October 2nd to November 7th, with peak visibility always occurring around October 20th and 21st. These times see the highest rate of meteors, and comets Lemmon and SWAN are also visible in the sky on this particular night. The meteors reach a speed of around 66 km/s, or almost 237,000 km/h, and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, which gives them their impressive luminosity.

• Der Radiant: Befindet sich im Sternbild Orion, nördlich des bekannten Sterns Beteigeuze.
• Beobachtungszeit: Zwischen 3 und 6 Uhr morgens ist die beste Zeit, um die Sternschnuppen zu sehen.
• Was Sie brauchen: Eine Decke und einen Liegestuhl sind ideal, sowie ein warmer Tee, um es sich gemütlich zu machen.

Avoid looking directly into the radiant to spot longer meteors and do not use telescopes or special equipment. The best view is with the naked eye. A dark environment, far away from artificial light, is essential for a completely successful experience. Plan to bundle up so you can be comfortable while watching.

The Orionids really are the highlight of the month of October for all sky watchers and nature lovers. So, grab your lounger, head to a dark place and enjoy this breathtaking spectacle of nature! You can find more information about the Orionid meteor shower on the website of Baltic Sea newspaper, Star Walk and Timeanddate.