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.

Full beginner's guide → · The science: comets, radiants & ZHR → · Finding dark skies →

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.