Orionid meteor shower’s glowing streaks and fireballs will light up the sky

SOCIETYWednesday, October 21, 2026 2:31PMWatch ABC News live news stream and get 24/7 latest, breaking news coverage, and live video. The Orionid meteor shower creates one of the most brilliant displays in the night sky each fall — but this year’s celestial event may have a dimmer showing due to a bright moon. Unlike the recent Draconid meteor shower, a treat for early sleepers, the Orionids will reward those who stay up late or rise in the dark hours before dawn. The shower, which appears every year as Earth passes through the debris trail left by Halley’s comet, is predicted to peak at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday. That means the best time to spot the quickly flashing meteors will be during the overnight hours between Wednesday and Thursday, according to EarthSky. Sky-gazers across the Northern and Southern hemispheres should start to see meteors zip by after midnight local time. Just a few days before the full moon rises on October 26, the waxing gibbous moon will be 76% illuminated Wednesday night, according to the American Meteor Society — which could make it harder to spot the shower during parts of the viewing period.

SOCIETYWatch ABC News live news stream and get 24/7 latest, breaking news coverage, and live video. Wednesday, October 21, 2026 2:31PMThe Orionid meteor shower creates one of the most brilliant displays in the night sky each fall — but this year’s celestial event may have a dimmer showing due to a bright moon. Unlike the recent Draconid meteor shower, a treat for early sleepers, the Orionids will reward those who stay up late or rise in the dark hours before dawn. The shower, which appears every year as Earth passes through the debris trail left by Halley’s comet, is predicted to peak at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday. That means the best time to spot the quickly flashing meteors will be during the overnight hours between Wednesday and Thursday, according to EarthSky. Sky-gazers across the Northern and Southern hemispheres should start to see meteors zip by after midnight local time. Just a few days before the full moon rises on October 26, the waxing gibbous moon will be 76% illuminated Wednesday night, according to the American Meteor Society — which could make it harder to spot the shower during parts of the viewing period.

SOCIETYWednesday, October 21, 2026 2:31PMWatch ABC News live news stream and get 24/7 latest, breaking news coverage, and live video. The Orionid meteor shower creates one of the most brilliant displays in the night sky each fall — but this year’s celestial event may have a dimmer showing due to a bright moon. Unlike the recent Draconid meteor shower, a treat for early sleepers, the Orionids will reward those who stay up late or rise in the dark hours before dawn. The shower, which appears every year as Earth passes through the debris trail left by Halley’s comet, is predicted to peak at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday. That means the best time to spot the quickly flashing meteors will be during the overnight hours between Wednesday and Thursday, according to EarthSky. Sky-gazers across the Northern and Southern hemispheres should start to see meteors zip by after midnight local time. Just a few days before the full moon rises on October 26, the waxing gibbous moon will be 76% illuminated Wednesday night, according to the American Meteor Society — which could make it harder to spot the shower during parts of the viewing period.

Political signs are posted on a rural road in Wainwright, Alta., on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty O'Neil). First Nations in Alberta are celebrating the win for the pro-Canada side in Monday’s referendum — but they’re also raising concerns about a shortage of ballots in their communities.

Another surprising piece of news: Xaverian QB Will Wood flipped his commitment from Penn State to Boston College. Read more here. Now let’s talk playoff football. Domenic Busa and Newton North would get the final Division 1 playoff spot if the season ended today. Sidharth Sahni/Newton North High SchoolWith two weeks left in the football regular season, it’s time to consider playoff positioning. This year, the MIAA is still operating under the format where the top 16 teams in each of eight divisions qualify based on power ratings — a combination of margin of victory and opponent’s power rating (essentially strength of schedule); three wins and seven games are required. (The Super 8 begins in 2027.)Let’s explore the teams on bubble:Division 1: This field is nearly set. New Bedford (5-1, 9.765 rating) appears a lock at No. 15. No. 16 BC High (1-5, 8.977) must win its final two games, a tough task against Xaverian and St. John’s (Shrewsbury). If that doesn’t happen, it leaves room for No. 17 Newton North (5-1, 6.496) if the Tigers can hold off No. 18 Shrewsbury (2-4, 5.929) and No. 19 Taunton (3-3, 5.636). No. 8 Xaverian and No. 14 Methuen need one more win.

The Democrat running for U.S. Senate said in a 2016 Minnesota House committee hearing that she “graduated Phi Beta Kappa.”