Meteor Shower Calendar 2026

2026 Meteor Shower Schedule

Shower	Peak	Moon	Meteors/hr
✦ Quadrantids	Jan 3-4	🌓 Fair	110/hr
✦ Lyrids	Apr 22	🌓 Fair	18/hr
✦ Eta Aquariids	May 5-6	🌑 Great	40/hr
✦ Southern Delta Aquariids	Jul 29-30	🌕 Poor	25/hr
✦ Perseids ★	Aug 12-13	🌑 Great	150/hr
✦ Orionids	Oct 21	🌔 Poor	20/hr
✦ Leonids	Nov 17	🌒 Good	15/hr
✦ Geminids ★	Dec 13-14	🌒 Good	120/hr
✦ Ursids	Dec 22	🌓 Fair	10/hr

★ = Exceptional conditions in 2026

How to Watch a Meteor Shower

1

Find dark skies

Get away from city lights. Even 20 minutes of driving makes a huge difference.

2

Look up

Lie on your back, face up. No telescope needed. Your eyes are the best meteor detectors.

3

Wait 20 minutes

Your eyes need time to adjust to the dark. Be patient — then the show begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check our meteor shower calendar above for the complete 2026 schedule. Major showers include the Lyrids (April), Eta Aquariids (May), Perseids (August), and Geminids (December).

Find a dark location away from city lights. Lie on your back and look straight up. Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. No telescope or binoculars needed — meteors are best seen with the naked eye.

The Perseids in August are exceptional in 2026: new moon means pitch-dark skies, and up to 150 meteors per hour. The Geminids in December are also excellent, with a young moon setting early.

Under perfect conditions (dark skies, clear weather, after midnight), you might see the listed ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate). Realistically, expect about half that number from a suburban location.

Yes, significantly. A bright moon washes out fainter meteors. We rate each shower's moon conditions: Great (new moon), Good (crescent), Fair (half moon), Poor (full/gibbous moon).

Yes! Click "Remind me" on any shower. We'll email you the day before the peak so you can plan your viewing.