Meteor Shower Calendar
The next big shower is the Southern Taurids, peaking around 5 November 2026. Every major shower below, next peak first, with how much moonlight to expect.
| Shower | Peak night | Per hour* | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Taurids 10 Sept – 20 Nov | 5 November 2026 | ~5 | 14% (dark) |
| Northern Taurids 20 Oct – 10 Dec | 12 November 2026 | ~5 | 10% (dark) |
| Leonids 6 Nov – 30 Nov | 17 November 2026 | ~15 | 50% |
| Geminids 4 Dec – 20 Dec | 14 December 2026 | ~150 | 24% (dark) |
| Ursids 17 Dec – 26 Dec | 22 December 2026 | ~10 | 96% (bright) |
| Quadrantids 26 Dec – 16 Jan | 3 January 2027 | ~120 | 16% (dark) |
| Lyrids 15 Apr – 29 Apr | 22 April 2027 | ~18 | 97% (bright) |
| Eta Aquariids 19 Apr – 28 May | 5 May 2027 | ~50 | 1% (dark) |
| Southern Delta Aquariids 12 Jul – 23 Aug | 30 July 2027 | ~25 | 12% (dark) |
| Perseids 17 Jul – 24 Aug | 12 August 2027 | ~100 | 81% (bright) |
| Orionids 2 Oct – 7 Nov | 21 October 2027 | ~20 | 64% (bright) |
* The rate under ideal, perfectly dark skies with the radiant overhead — expect fewer. Peak dates can shift by a day either way.
How to watch
- Get away from lights, let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes, and skip the phone screen (or use skycrate's red night-vision mode).
- Look about halfway up, roughly towards the radiant but not right at it — meteors are easier to catch to the side.
- Rates climb after midnight, when your side of Earth faces into the stream.
- Check the cloud first: the 7-night forecast scores each night for your location.
About each shower
- Southern Taurids (from Taurus; best from the whole world): Low rate but a higher share of bright fireballs than most showers.
- Northern Taurids (from Taurus; best from the whole world): Overlaps the Southern Taurids; together they extend fireball season into December.
- Leonids (from Leo; best from the whole world): Famous for periodic storm-level outbursts (thousands/hour) roughly every 33 years; a normal year is modest.
- Geminids (from Gemini; best from the whole world): The most reliable, highest-rate shower of the year — active from a rocky asteroid, not a comet.
- Ursids (from Ursa Minor; best from the northern hemisphere): Quiet, often-overlooked finish to the year, close to the winter solstice.
- Quadrantids (from Boötes; best from the northern hemisphere): A sharp, short peak (just hours) — timing matters more than for most showers.
- Lyrids (from Lyra; best from the northern hemisphere): Fast, occasionally bright meteors with persistent trains.
- Eta Aquariids (from Aquarius; best from the southern hemisphere): Best from the tropics and Southern Hemisphere; the radiant sits low for northern observers.
- Southern Delta Aquariids (from Aquarius; best from the southern hemisphere): Broad, weak peak; often blends into Perseid season.
- Perseids (from Perseus; best from the northern hemisphere): The most popular shower of the year — reliable rates and warm summer nights for northern observers.
- Orionids (from Orion; best from the whole world): Fast meteors, debris from Halley’s Comet, same as the Eta Aquariids.
Dates and rates from the International Meteor Organization's calendar; moonlight worked out with Astronomy Engine.