Meteor showers
When is the next meteor shower?
Every major meteor shower for the next few years, with the Moon's interference told straight — plus the annual calendar that repeats every year, and how to actually watch. No telescope needed, ever.
Upcoming peaks
Perseids meteor shower 2026
· Overnight 12–13 Aug into the pre-dawn hours of the 13th, radiant in Perseus (highest before dawn)
New Moon at the peak
Forecast & guide →Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Orionids meteor shower 2026
· Overnight 21–22 Oct, radiant in Orion highest in the pre-dawn hours; ZHR around 20 under ideal dark skies (IMO)
80% moon at the peak
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Leonids meteor shower 2026
· Overnight 16–17 Nov, radiant in Leo rising late — the pre-dawn hours are the productive window; ZHR around 15 (IMO)
45% moon at the peak
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Geminids meteor shower 2026
· Overnight 13–14 Dec; the radiant in Gemini is usefully high from mid-evening and best around 2 a.m. local — one of the few major showers that performs before midnight; ZHR up to ~150 under ideal dark skies (IMO)
21% moon at the peak
Forecast & guide →Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Quadrantids meteor shower 2027
· A sharp peak lasting only a few hours overnight 3–4 Jan; ZHR can reach ~120 under ideal dark skies if the peak window favors your longitude (IMO)
13% moon at the peak
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2027
· Pre-dawn peak; radiant in Aquarius, favouring the Southern Hemisphere and low northern latitudes
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Perseids possible outburst 2028
· In addition to the normal peak, models predict a possible encounter with an older dust trail; rate predictions differ widely (roughly 250 vs 1000+ per hour) and are uncertain
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Geminids meteor shower 2028
· Overnight peak; radiant in Gemini, active from mid-evening, rich in bright slow meteors
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Quadrantids meteor shower 2030
· Short, sharp pre-dawn peak (only a few hours wide); radiant near the Big Dipper/Boötes
Source: International Meteor Organization — meteor shower calendar
Eclipses, planet nights and the full five-year timeline live on the sky calendar.
Never miss a peak night
One subscription puts every shower above — and every other night worth planning for — on your own calendar, and keeps itself current. No account, no email address.
The annual meteor shower calendar
The major showers repeat on the same weeks every year — what changes is the Moon. The exact peak night shifts by a day or so from year to year (the list above has the exact dates); the rates below are ZHR, a standardized ceiling that assumes a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead, so real counts are always lower.
| Shower | Active | Typical peak | ZHR (ideal sky) | Best from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | Jan 3–4 | ~110 | Northern hemisphere |
| Lyrids | Apr 14–30 | Apr 22–23 | ~18 | Both, better north |
| Eta Aquariids | Apr 19 – May 28 | May 5–6 | ~50 | Both, better south |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 12 – Aug 23 | Jul 30–31 | ~25 | Both, better south |
| Perseids | Jul 17 – Aug 24 | Aug 12–13 | ~100 | Northern hemisphere |
| Orionids | Oct 2 – Nov 7 | Oct 21–22 | ~20 | Both hemispheres |
| Leonids | Nov 6–30 | Nov 17–18 | ~15 | Both hemispheres |
| Geminids | Dec 4–20 | Dec 13–14 | ~150 | Both, better north |
| Ursids | Dec 17–26 | Dec 22–23 | ~10 | Northern hemisphere |
Activity periods, typical peaks and ZHR values: International Meteor Organization.
How to actually watch one
Meteor watching is the least technical thing in astronomy — and the most weather-dependent. Four things decide whether a peak night pays off:
- Go after midnight. For almost every shower the best rates come between midnight and dawn, when your side of the Earth turns into the meteor stream and the radiant climbs highest. The evening hours are usually the weakest.
- Skip the optics. Meteors streak across the whole sky; a telescope or binoculars only narrow your view. Lie back, cover as much sky as you can, and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to dark-adapt — no phone screens.
- Look away from the radiant. Meteors near the radiant have short, stubby trails. Rest your gaze about two-thirds of the way up the sky, some 40–60° from the radiant, where the streaks draw longest.
- Respect the Moon and the cloud. A bright Moon washes out the fainter meteors — that's why every entry above states the peak-night moonlight. Cloud is the other veto, and it's local: score the next 16 nights for your exact location before you commit to a drive, or check your city's page for dark-sky spots worth driving to.
Meteor shower questions, answered straight
When is the next meteor shower?
The next major peak is the first upcoming entry in the list at the top of this page, which covers every major shower for the next few years. As a rule of thumb, the three strongest annual showers are the Quadrantids in early January, the Perseids in mid August and the Geminids in mid December.
Can I see a meteor shower tonight?
Showers are active for weeks around their peak, so outside a peak night you can still catch a handful of meteors per hour — but rates are far below the peak. Whether tonight is worth it depends mostly on cloud, moonlight and your local light pollution; check a stargazing forecast for your exact location before heading out.
What time of night is best for meteors?
After midnight into pre-dawn, for almost every shower. That is when your side of the Earth turns to face the incoming meteor stream and the radiant climbs highest. The evening hours are usually the weakest.
Do I need a telescope or binoculars to watch a meteor shower?
No. Meteors are a naked-eye, whole-sky event — optics only narrow your view and hurt your chances. Lie back, take in as much sky as possible, and let your eyes dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes.
Why do I see far fewer meteors than the advertised rate?
Quoted rates are ZHR — zenithal hourly rate — a standardized ceiling that assumes a perfectly dark sky with the radiant directly overhead. Real counts are always lower, mostly because of light pollution, moonlight, cloud and a radiant lower in the sky.
Where in the sky should I look?
Not straight at the radiant — meteors there have short trails. Let your gaze rest about two-thirds of the way up the sky, some 40–60° away from the radiant, where meteors draw their longest streaks.
Peak dates and moon figures in the list above are the linked source's (International Meteor Organization and peers), not ours; where a source doesn't state a figure, we don't draw one. Forecast scores are Stellarhound's and carry the usual weather-forecast uncertainty.