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Meteor showers
Next up: the Orionids, peaking the night of Wednesday, October 21 (up to ~20 meteors an hour under dark skies; moon 82% lit).
| Shower | Peak night | Meteors / hour | Moon | Best viewing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | ~20 | 82% lit (bright) | Both hemispheres; after midnight |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | ~15 | 56% lit | Both hemispheres; after midnight |
| Geminids | Dec 14, 2026 | ~150 | 28% lit | Both hemispheres; from mid-evening — the year's best shower |
| Ursids | Dec 22, 2026 | ~10 | 97% lit (bright) | Northern Hemisphere; before dawn |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | ~110 | 20% lit (dark — great) | Northern Hemisphere; best before dawn |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | ~18 | 100% lit (bright) | Northern Hemisphere; after midnight |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | ~50 | 2% lit (dark — great) | Best from the Southern Hemisphere and tropics; before dawn |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | ~25 | 13% lit (dark — great) | Southern Hemisphere and southern US; after midnight |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | ~100 | 75% lit (bright) | Northern Hemisphere; after midnight, best before dawn |
| Draconids | Oct 8, 2027 | ~10 | 58% lit | Northern Hemisphere; early evening |
Peak nights are typical dates and can shift by a day. "Meteors per hour" is the rate under perfect dark skies; city skies show far fewer. A bright moon washes out fainter meteors.
Questions
When is the best time to watch a meteor shower?
Usually after midnight until dawn on the peak night, from somewhere dark, away from city lights. Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust and look at a wide area of sky, not straight at the radiant.
Do I need a telescope?
No — meteors move too fast. Just your eyes, a reclining chair and warm clothes.