Meteor Showers 2026

Major annual meteor showers — peak dates, rates, and best viewing conditions.

Next shower
Perseids
Peaks ~Aug 13 · Up to 100 meteors/hour

Quadrantids

Excellentpast

Radiant: Boötes

Jan 4
peak
ZHR
120
Speed
41 km/s
Active
~4d

Short but intense peak of just 6–12 hours. Best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. Active January 1–6.

Source: Asteroid 2003 EH1

Lyrids

Moderatepast

Radiant: Lyra

Apr 22
peak
ZHR
18
Speed
49 km/s
Active
~6d

One of the oldest recorded meteor showers. Occasional outbursts can reach 100+ ZHR. Active April 15–29.

Source: Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)

Eta Aquariids

Goodpast

Radiant: Aquarius

May 6
peak
ZHR
50
Speed
66 km/s
Active
~10d

Debris from Halley's Comet. Best from the Southern Hemisphere; Northern observers see fewer meteors. Active April 19 – May 28.

Source: Comet 1P/Halley

Perseids

Excellent

Radiant: Perseus

Aug 13
peak
ZHR
100
Speed
59 km/s
Active
~10d

Most popular shower of the year. Warm summer nights, high rates, and bright fireballs. Active July 17 – Aug 26.

Source: Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle

Orionids

Moderate

Radiant: Orion

Oct 21
peak
ZHR
20
Speed
66 km/s
Active
~8d

Second shower from Halley's Comet. Fast, bright meteors with persistent trains. Active October 4 – November 14.

Source: Comet 1P/Halley

Leonids

Moderate

Radiant: Leo

Nov 18
peak
ZHR
15
Speed
71 km/s
Active
~6d

Fastest meteors of any major shower. Historic storm of 1833 produced 100,000+ meteors per hour. Active Nov 3–Dec 2.

Source: Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

Geminids

Excellent

Radiant: Gemini

Dec 14
peak
ZHR
150
Speed
35 km/s
Active
~8d

Strongest and most reliable annual shower. Unusually sourced from an asteroid. Bright, multicoloured meteors. Active Dec 4–20.

Source: Asteroid 3200 Phaethon

Ursids

Moderate

Radiant: Ursa Minor

Dec 22
peak
ZHR
10
Speed
33 km/s
Active
~4d

Modest shower that closes out the year. Visible only from the Northern Hemisphere. Active Dec 17–26.

Source: Comet 8P/Tuttle

Viewing tips

  • ·Find a dark location away from city lights — even a suburban backyard works.
  • ·Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark.
  • ·Look in any direction; meteors appear across the whole sky.
  • ·ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) assumes a perfect dark sky — real rates are typically lower.
  • ·A new or crescent moon means a darker sky and better viewing.