Follow Us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Tim McCollum captured a stunning view of the Orionid meteors in the early hours of October 21. (Image credit: Tim McCollum) Astrophotographer Tim McCollum captured a spectacular view of Orionid meteors sharing the night sky with a host of deep-sky wonders on October 21, as the annual display of shooting stars reached peak activity. Comet 1P/Halley may be more than 3 billion miles (4.8 kilometers) from Earth, but that didn’t stop it from putting on an impressive display earlier this week, when particles ejected by the ancient walker cut a path of fire across the autumn sky. McCollum was able to capture a trio of vivid Orionid meteors as they streaked across the night sky over the city of Toccoa, Georgia, between 3 and 4 a.m. on October 21. Each of the shooting stars can be seen moving away from the apparent point of origin of the shower, or radiant. — which is located near the red giant star Betelgeuse in the Orion constellation. Successful shooting star images require a combination of skill, luck, and patience. McCollum photographed the meteors over multiple 30-second exposures taken with a Canon EOS Ra camera and an RF 28-70 f2.0 lens, which was unerringly locked onto the radiant with the help of a star tracker. The individual exposures were then combined into a single composite image using PixInsight astrophotography software. Nebulae and star clusters shine alongside fast-moving Orionid meteors. (Image credit: Tim McCollum) Canon EOS R7 Camera (Image credit: Future/Kimberley Lane) The Canon EOS R7 is the best camera for beginners. Despite its crop sensor, the EOS R7 can rival most full-frame cameras. It has a 34.4 MP sensor, ISO range of up to 32,000 and 4K UHD 60p video capacity. It has the best tools to help a beginner master photography. Read our full Canon EOS R7 review. The familiar stars of Orion’s Belt shine to the right of McCollum’s image, near the glow of the Orion Nebula, one of the major star-forming regions closest to Earth. The Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49) can also be seen embedded in the dense star field and dust lanes of the Milky Way’s galactic plane, which runs diagonally across the composite image, as do numerous star clusters. You may like The Orionid meteor shower runs through November 7, so be sure to head out over the next few nights for a chance to see one of Comet 1P/Halley’s dazzling shooting stars. If you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to see a Halloween fireball from the Taurid meteor shower as Earth passes through streams of debris thrown up by Comet 2P/Encke. Why not read our handy guide to shooting shooting stars? You can also take a look at our selection of the best astrophotography lenses and cameras available in 2026, including the Canon EOS R8, which offers the essential time-lapse shooting functionality you need to capture meteors without breaking the bank. Editor’s Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com readers, please send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
