Meteor shower calendar
🌠 Next meteor shower
Draconids
Peak Thursday 08/10 · ZHR ~10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Draconids | Thursday 08/10· 7 days | ~10 |
| Orionids | Wednesday 21/10· 20 days | ~20 |
| Leonids | Tuesday 17/11· 47 days | ~15 |
| Geminids Major | Monday 14/12· 74 days | ~150 |
| Ursids | Tuesday 22/12· 82 days | ~10 |
| Quadrantids Major | Sunday 03/01· 94 days | ~110 |
| Lyrids | Thursday 22/04· 203 days | ~18 |
| Eta Aquariids | Thursday 06/05· 217 days | ~50 |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Friday 30/07· 302 days | ~25 |
| Perseids Major | Thursday 12/08· 315 days | ~100 |
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.