Meteor shower calendar
🌠 Next meteor shower
Orionids
Peak 10/21水曜日 · ZHR ~20 meteors/hour
Approximate peak; meteors are also seen a few nights before and after. Best after midnight.
This year's meteor showers
Approximate peak dates (may shift by a day). ZHR is meteors per hour under ideal skies; real counts are much lower.
| Meteor shower | Peak | ZHR |
|---|---|---|
| Orionids | 10/21水曜日· 3 days | ~20 |
| Leonids | 11/17火曜日· 30 days | ~15 |
| Geminids Major | 12/14月曜日· 57 days | ~150 |
| Ursids | 12/22火曜日· 65 days | ~10 |
| Quadrantids Major | 01/03日曜日· 77 days | ~110 |
| Lyrids | 04/22木曜日· 186 days | ~18 |
| Eta Aquariids | 05/06木曜日· 200 days | ~50 |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | 07/30金曜日· 285 days | ~25 |
| Perseids Major | 08/12木曜日· 298 days | ~100 |
| Draconids | 10/08金曜日· 355 days | ~10 |
Source: International Meteor Organization (IMO)
How to watch a meteor shower
- Find a truly dark placeAway from street and city lights; let your eyes adapt for 20–30 minutes.
- Lie back and look wideNo telescope needed — meteors appear all over the sky, not only near the radiant.
- Mind the MoonA bright moon near the peak hides most faint meteors; see the moon phase on the Night sky page.
- After midnight is bestYour side of the Earth then faces into the dust stream, so rates rise until dawn.
Meteor shower FAQ
When is the next meteor shower?
The card at the top shows the shower with the nearest peak; the table lists the year's major showers by their next peak.
What is ZHR? How many meteors will I see?
ZHR is the hourly rate under perfectly dark skies with the radiant overhead. In practice, with lights, the Moon and a lower radiant, you usually see a third to a half of it — far fewer in cities.
Which meteor shower is the best of the year?
The Geminids (mid-December) and Perseids (mid-August) are the most reliable and richest; the early-January Quadrantids are strong but peak only briefly.
Do I need a telescope or binoculars?
No. Meteors streak fast across a wide sky; telescopes and binoculars only narrow your view. Your eyes are best.