☄️ Meteor Showers

Your complete guide to this year's meteor showers with peak dates and viewing tips

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Lyrids

One of the oldest known meteor showers, observed for 2,700 years.

Peak: Apr 22-23Rate: 18/hrSpeed: 49 km/s
75
days away

Quadrantids

SpectacularPassed

One of the strongest annual showers with a sharp peak lasting only a few hours.

Peak
Jan 3-4
Rate (ZHR)
120 meteors/hr
Speed
41 km/s
Parent
Asteroid 2003 EH1
Radiant: Boötes · Best viewing: Pre-dawn, Northern Hemisphere

Lyrids

Gentle

One of the oldest known meteor showers, observed for 2,700 years.

Peak
Apr 22-23
Rate (ZHR)
18 meteors/hr
Speed
49 km/s
Parent
Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)
Radiant: Lyra · Best viewing: After midnight, both hemispheres
75
days

Eta Aquariids

Strong

Fast meteors from Halley's Comet debris, best seen from the Southern Hemisphere.

Peak
May 5-6
Rate (ZHR)
50 meteors/hr
Speed
66 km/s
Parent
Comet 1P/Halley
Radiant: Aquarius · Best viewing: Pre-dawn, Southern Hemisphere favored
88
days

Delta Aquariids

Moderate

A steady shower that overlaps with the early Perseids.

Peak
Jul 28-29
Rate (ZHR)
20 meteors/hr
Speed
41 km/s
Parent
Comet 96P/Machholz
Radiant: Aquarius · Best viewing: After midnight, Southern Hemisphere favored
172
days

Perseids

Spectacular

The most popular meteor shower! Bright, fast meteors with frequent fireballs.

Peak
Aug 12-13
Rate (ZHR)
100 meteors/hr
Speed
59 km/s
Parent
Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
Radiant: Perseus · Best viewing: After midnight, Northern Hemisphere
187
days

Draconids

Gentle

Slow-moving meteors best seen in the evening rather than after midnight.

Peak
Oct 8-9
Rate (ZHR)
10 meteors/hr
Speed
20 km/s
Parent
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Radiant: Draco · Best viewing: Evening, Northern Hemisphere
244
days

Orionids

Moderate

Fast meteors from Halley's Comet with persistent trains.

Peak
Oct 21-22
Rate (ZHR)
20 meteors/hr
Speed
66 km/s
Parent
Comet 1P/Halley
Radiant: Orion · Best viewing: After midnight, both hemispheres
257
days

Taurids

Gentle

Slow, bright fireballs known as 'Halloween fireballs'. Low rate but spectacular.

Peak
Nov 4-5
Rate (ZHR)
5 meteors/hr
Speed
27 km/s
Parent
Comet 2P/Encke
Radiant: Taurus · Best viewing: Midnight, both hemispheres
271
days

Leonids

Gentle

Famous for producing meteor storms roughly every 33 years (last in 2001).

Peak
Nov 17-18
Rate (ZHR)
15 meteors/hr
Speed
71 km/s
Parent
Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle
Radiant: Leo · Best viewing: After midnight, both hemispheres
284
days

Geminids

Spectacular

The king of meteor showers! Bright, abundant, multi-colored meteors.

Peak
Dec 13-14
Rate (ZHR)
150 meteors/hr
Speed
35 km/s
Parent
Asteroid 3200 Phaethon
Radiant: Gemini · Best viewing: All night, both hemispheres
310
days

Ursids

Gentle

A modest shower near the winter solstice, occasionally producing surprise bursts.

Peak
Dec 22-23
Rate (ZHR)
10 meteors/hr
Speed
33 km/s
Parent
Comet 8P/Tuttle
Radiant: Ursa Minor · Best viewing: Pre-dawn, Northern Hemisphere
319
days

Meteor Viewing Tips

🌑
Dark skies

Get away from city lights. Even a short drive helps enormously.

👁️
Let eyes adapt

Give your eyes 20-30 minutes to adapt to darkness. Avoid phone screens.

🛋️
Get comfortable

Lie on a blanket or reclining chair. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.

Timing matters

Most showers peak after midnight when your location faces into the debris stream.