Meteor Shower Calendar 2026/2027

Active through 6–30 November 20266–30 Nov 2026

The Leonids are best known for producing meteor storms in 1833, 1866, 1966, 1999, 2001, and 2002. These outbursts are best seen when the parent object, comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, is near perihelion. It is not fresh material from the comet that we see, but debris from earlier returns that happens to be most dense at the same time. Unfortunately, it appears that Earth will not encounter any dense clouds of debris until 2099. When the comet returns in 2031 and 2064, there may not be any meteor storms, but there may be several good displays with rates exceeding 100 per hour. Each passing year also presents new possibilities from old debris fields.

The Moon will be 39% illuminated · Waxing crescent on peak night (16–17 Nov 2026).

Moonlight may obscure fainter meteors while the Moon is above the horizon.

Active through 4–17 December 20264–17 Dec 2026

The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year, and meteor enthusiasts are certain to circle December 13th and 14th on their calendars. This is the one major shower that provides good activity before midnight, as the constellation Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward. The Geminids are often bright and intensely colored. Due to their medium-slow velocity, persistent trains are not usually seen. These meteors are also visible from the southern hemisphere, but only during the middle of the night and at a reduced rate.

The Moon will be 15% illuminated · Waxing crescent on peak night (13–14 Dec 2026).

Generally favorable lunar conditions, with limited moonlight interference.

Active through 17–26 December 202617–26 Dec 2026

The Ursids are often neglected because they peak just before Christmas and their rates are much lower than those of the Geminids, which peak only a week earlier. Observers normally see 5–10 Ursids per hour during the late-morning hours on the date of maximum activity. There have been occasional outbursts when rates exceeded 25 per hour. These outbursts appear unrelated to the perihelion dates of comet 8P/Tuttle. This shower is strictly a northern-hemisphere event, as the radiant fails to clear the horizon—or does so simultaneously with the start of morning twilight—when seen from the southern tropics.

The Moon will be 89% illuminated · Waxing gibbous on peak night (21–22 Dec 2026).

Expect significant interference while the Moon is above the horizon, though brighter meteors can still be visible.

Active through 28 December 2026 to 12 January 202728 December 2026 to 12 January 2027

The Quadrantids have the potential to be the strongest shower of the year but usually fall short due to the short length of maximum activity (6 hours) and the poor weather experienced during early January. The average hourly rate one can expect under dark skies is 25. These meteors usually lack persistent trains but often produce bright fireballs. Due to the high northerly declination (celestial latitude), these meteors are not well seen from the southern hemisphere. Predictions for 2027 show a peak near 3:30 UT on January 4th. This timing favors Europe and western Asia. The lunar conditions for this date are favorable, as the thin waning crescent moon will not interfere with viewing meteor activity.

The Moon will be 18% illuminated · Waning crescent on peak night (3–4 Jan 2027).

Generally favorable lunar conditions, with limited moonlight interference.

Active through 14–30 April 202714–30 Apr 2027

The Lyrids are a medium-strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum. These meteors also usually lack persistent trains but can produce fireballs. These meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere, where the radiant is high in the sky at dawn. Activity from this shower can be seen from the southern hemisphere, but at a lower rate.

The Moon will be 100% illuminated · Full moon on peak night (21–22 Apr 2027).

Expect significant interference while the Moon is above the horizon, though brighter meteors can still be visible.

Active through 19 April – 28 May 202719 Apr – 28 May 2027

The Eta Aquariids are a strong shower when viewed from the southern tropics. From the equator northward, they usually produce only medium rates of 10–30 per hour just before dawn. Activity is good for a week centered on the night of maximum activity. These are swift meteors that produce a high percentage of persistent trains but few fireballs.

The Moon will be 2% illuminated · Waning crescent on peak night (5–6 May 2027).

Very favorable lunar conditions, with little or no moonlight interference.

Active through 12 July – 23 August 202712 Jul – 23 Aug 2027

The Southern Delta Aquariids are another strong shower best seen from the southern tropics. North of the equator, the radiant is located lower in the southern sky, and therefore rates are lower than those seen farther south. These meteors produce good rates for a week centered on the night of maximum. They are usually faint meteors that lack both persistent trains and fireballs.

The Moon will be 14% illuminated · Waning crescent on peak night (30–31 Jul 2027).

Generally favorable lunar conditions, with limited moonlight interference.

Active through 3 July – 15 August 20273 Jul – 15 Aug 2027

The Alpha Capricornids are active from July 12 through August 12, with a "plateau-like" maximum centered on July 31st. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces more than five shower members per hour. What is notable about this shower is the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period. This shower is seen equally well on either side of the equator.

The Moon will be 14% illuminated · Waning crescent on peak night (30–31 Jul 2027).

Generally favorable lunar conditions, with limited moonlight interference.

Active through 17 July – 24 August 202717 Jul – 24 Aug 2027

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere. The Perseids are active from July 17 to August 24. They reach a strong maximum on August 12 or 13, depending on the year. Normal hourly rates seen from rural locations range from 30-50 shower members per hour at maximum. The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle during its numerous returns to the inner solar system. They are called Perseids since the radiant (the area of the sky where the meteors seem to originate) is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the hero.

The Moon will be 79% illuminated · Waxing gibbous on peak night (12–13 Aug 2027).

Expect significant interference while the Moon is above the horizon, though brighter meteors can still be visible.