{
  "id": 15867852,
  "title": "Mars, Jupiter and Regulus align before dawn Thursday as Orionid meteor shower peaks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/mars-jupiter-and-regulus-align-before-dawn-thursday-as-orionid-meteor",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-21T09:29:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/yw4ut9nbz"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday, October 22, 2026, stargazers across the Arab world will witness a rare celestial alignment of Mars, Jupiter, and the star Regulus before dawn. This event occurs simultaneously with the peak of the Orionid meteor shower, providing a unique opportunity to observe these phenomena together. Space expert Majed Abu Zahira has announced that Mars will appear reddish-orange, Jupiter will shine brightly white, and Regulus will be a prominent blue-white star. The three celestial bodies will be visually aligned with Mars and Jupiter roughly 9 degrees apart, and Jupiter and Regulus about 7 degrees apart. However, this apparent alignment does not indicate a physical proximity in space. The alignment is a result of the planets' orbits intersecting our line of sight from Earth. Abu Zahira emphasized that the event highlights the dynamic nature of our night sky and the ongoing progression of the planets in their orbits. He also noted that the alignment coincides with the height of the Orionid meteor shower, which occurs when Earth passes through debris from Halley's Comet. As these particles enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of approximately 66 kilometers per second, they create bright streaks known as meteors. Ideal viewing conditions for meteors are after the waxing gibbous moon sets and before astronomical dawn, a window of about two and a half hours that varies by location and sky clarity. Using a dark site away from urban light pollution and allowing time for the eyes to adjust to the darkness is recommended for optimal observation. Mars, Jupiter, Regulus, and meteors can all be seen with the naked eye, though a wide area of the sky should be scanned rather than focusing solely on the Orion constellation to maximize meteor sightings. Abu Zahira stressed that this event underscores the ever-changing nature of the celestial sphere, blending the apparent motion of planets with the remnants of Halley's Comet traveling through our atmosphere.",
  "summary": "A rare alignment of Mars, Jupiter and Regulus will be visible across the Arab world before dawn on October 22, coinciding with the Orionid meteor shower peak.",
  "key_points": [
    "Mars, Jupiter, and Regulus align before dawn on Thursday, October 22, 2026",
    "Orionid meteor shower peaks simultaneously with celestial alignment",
    "Mars appears reddish-orange, Jupiter shines white, Regulus is blue-white"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The convergence of planetary alignment and meteor activity offers observers a rare demonstration of how orbital paths and comet debris create fleeting, complex displays in the night sky.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}