Halley's Comet 2026: Can You See It? Meteor Showers, Position & What to Know
If you're searching for Halley's Comet in 2026, here's the short answer: you cannot see it. The comet is currently 35 AU from the Sun — beyond Neptune's orbit — frozen, dark, and invisible to every telescope on Earth. It won't return to the inner solar system until July 2061.
But that doesn't mean Halley is irrelevant in 2026. Every year, Earth passes through the debris trail Halley has left along its orbit, producing two of the best meteor showers of the year. And right now, another comet — the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS — is giving us the kind of science that Halley pioneered in 1986.
Where Is Halley's Comet in 2026?
In February 2026, Halley's Comet (officially 1P/Halley) is located in the constellation Hydra at a distance of approximately 35 AU from the Sun — roughly 5.2 billion km. For context:
- Neptune orbits at 30 AU
- Pluto averages 39.5 AU
- Halley is currently between the two, at 35 AU
The comet reached aphelion (its farthest point from the Sun) on December 9, 2023, at 35.14 AU. It has now begun its 37.6-year inbound journey, but the motion is nearly imperceptible — at aphelion, Halley crawls along at just 0.91 km/s (2,000 mph), compared to its blazing 54.55 km/s at perihelion.
Its current brightness is approximately magnitude +35. To put that in perspective:
| Object | Magnitude | How Much Brighter Than Halley (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Faintest naked-eye star | +6.5 | 100 billion times brighter |
| Hubble's detection limit | +31.5 | 25 times brighter |
| James Webb's limit | +34 | 2.5 times brighter |
| Halley in 2026 | +35 | — |
Even the James Webb Space Telescope would struggle to detect it. The last confirmed observation was by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in 2003, when Halley was at magnitude +28.2 and only 28.1 AU from the Sun.
Bottom line: No telescope on Earth or in space can currently see Halley's Comet, and this will remain the case for approximately another 25 years.
Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower 2026: May 5-6
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is the best way to experience Halley's Comet in 2026. Every May, Earth passes through the debris stream Halley has deposited along the outbound leg of its orbit, producing one of the richest showers of the year.
2026 Eta Aquariids at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Active period | April 15 – May 27 |
| Peak | May 5-6 (predicted 03:51 UTC on May 5) |
| Peak rate | Up to 50 meteors per hour (ZHR) |
| Radiant | Constellation Aquarius (near Eta Aquarii) |
| Best viewing | Pre-dawn hours, 3:00-5:00 AM local time |
| Best hemisphere | Southern Hemisphere (radiant higher in sky) |
| Moon interference | Waning gibbous — moderate interference with fainter meteors |
| Meteor speed | 66 km/s (fast, often with persistent trains) |
How to Watch
- Go outside between 3:00 and 5:00 AM on the morning of May 5 or 6
- Find a dark location away from city lights — the darker the better, especially with Moon interference this year
- Face east-southeast, toward the constellation Aquarius (rising above the horizon before dawn)
- Lie down and let your eyes adapt to the dark for at least 15-20 minutes
- No equipment needed — meteors are best seen with the naked eye, not telescopes or binoculars
- Be patient — you may see a meteor every 1-2 minutes at peak, with occasional gaps and clusters
Northern Hemisphere tip: The radiant is lower in the sky from northern latitudes, which reduces the hourly rate but produces more earthgrazer meteors — long, slow-moving streaks that skim across the entire sky. These are some of the most spectacular meteors you can see.
Orionid Meteor Shower 2026: October 21-22
Earth crosses Halley's orbit a second time each year, producing the Orionid meteor shower in October.
2026 Orionids at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Active period | September 26 – November 7 |
| Peak | October 21-22 |
| Peak rate | ~20 meteors per hour (ZHR) |
| Radiant | Constellation Orion (near Betelgeuse) |
| Best viewing | After midnight, 1:00-5:00 AM local time |
| Best hemisphere | Both — Orion is visible worldwide |
| Meteor speed | 66 km/s (fast) |
| Characteristic | Often leave persistent glowing trains lasting several seconds |
The Orionids are less prolific than the Eta Aquariids but have a distinct advantage: Orion is high in the sky from both hemispheres during the pre-dawn hours of late October, making this an equal-opportunity shower.
Watch for fireballs — Orionid meteors occasionally produce exceptionally bright flares that light up the sky for a split second. These come from larger-than-average particles in Halley's debris stream.
When Will Halley's Comet Be Visible Again?
Halley's journey back to visibility will be a long one:
| Year | Distance from Sun | Expected Magnitude | Detectable By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 AU | +35 | Nothing |
| 2035 | ~28 AU | +30 | Possibly JWST or next-gen telescopes |
| 2045 | ~18 AU | +25 | Large professional telescopes |
| 2050 | ~12 AU | +20 | Professional CCD imaging |
| 2055 | ~7 AU | +15 | Advanced amateur telescopes |
| 2058 | ~4 AU | +10 | Large amateur telescopes |
| 2060 | ~2 AU | +5 | Binoculars |
| July 2061 | 0.59 AU | -0.3 | Naked eye (brighter than Vega) |
The 2061 apparition will be dramatically better than the disappointing 1986 pass:
- 10 times brighter (magnitude -0.3 vs +2.1)
- Comet and Earth on the same side of the Sun (terrible geometry in 1986)
- Visible tail spanning 10-15 degrees (barely visible in 1986)
- Excellent viewing from both hemispheres (mostly Southern in 1986)
- Best viewing window: May through September 2061
If you were alive for the 1986 return and were disappointed, 2061 should deliver the spectacular show that Halley's reputation promises.
2026's Real Comet Show: 3I/ATLAS
While Halley sleeps beyond Neptune, 2026 has its own comet story: 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar object ever detected and the first interstellar comet large enough for detailed study.
Here's how 2026's actual comet compares to the one people are searching for:
| Feature | Halley's Comet (2026) | 3I/ATLAS (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Dormant, frozen, invisible | Fading but still active, magnitude ~16 |
| Distance from Sun | 35 AU (beyond Neptune) | ~3.5 AU (between Mars and Jupiter) |
| Observable? | No | Yes (professional telescopes) |
| Origin | Our solar system | Another star system |
| Returns? | July 2061 | Never — departing forever |
| Key 2026 event | Meteor showers (May, Oct) | Jupiter flyby March 16 |
| Nucleus size | 15 × 8 km | ~1.3 km radius |
3I/ATLAS has already delivered discoveries that rival what the Halley Armada achieved in 1986:
- First methane detection in an interstellar object (JWST)
- First radio detection of hydroxyl in an interstellar comet (MeerKAT)
- CO₂-dominated coma — unlike any solar system comet, including Halley
- Nucleus directly detected by Hubble at 1.3 km, aspherical with 2:1 axis ratio
- Dramatic spin-up from 16.16 hours to 7.1 hours post-perihelion
The March 16 Jupiter flyby at 0.358 AU will be the last major event before 3I/ATLAS fades beyond reach of most telescopes.
Your 2026 Halley Calendar
Here's every Halley-related event in 2026:
| Date | Event | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| April 15 | Eta Aquariids begin | Start watching pre-dawn skies |
| May 5-6 | Eta Aquariid peak | Best night — up to 50 meteors/hour before dawn |
| May 27 | Eta Aquariids end | Last stragglers |
| September 26 | Orionids begin | Watch after midnight |
| October 21-22 | Orionid peak | ~20 meteors/hour after midnight |
| November 7 | Orionids end | Season over |
No equipment needed for meteor showers. Just dark skies, warm clothing, and patience. Each meteor you see is a tiny grain of dust shed by Halley's Comet during a previous passage through the inner solar system — some of these particles have been orbiting the Sun for thousands of years, waiting for Earth to sweep them up.
For a completely different kind of comet experience, follow 3I/ATLAS on its way through the outer solar system. Unlike Halley — which we've seen 30+ times over 2,000 years — 3I/ATLAS is a once-in-history visitor carrying chemical samples from another star.
Track 3I/ATLAS in real time on our Orbit page, explore the timeline of discoveries, and check observing conditions on the Observing page.