Find real darkness.
A family guide to certified dark sky places in the United States and the meteor showers worth staying up for. Every place and date comes from the people who run it or count it.
The Geminids: night of Dec 13–14, 2026
The American Meteor Society calls the Geminids “usually the strongest meteor shower of the year” and says “This is the one major shower that provides good activity before midnight, as the constellation Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward.” That makes them a good one for kids who can't stay up all night.
- Peak nightDec 13–14, 2026. Active Dec 4–17, 2026.Source: AMS meteor shower calendar
- How manyPublished ZHR: 150 (AMS average). ZHR is a standardized rate: what one observer would count in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant straight overhead. It isn't a forecast, and what you count is usually lower. The AMS says “Geminid rates usually pass 60-70/hour at maximum.”Sources: AMS calendar, AMS major showers
- MoonDec 13: waxing crescent, 19% lit (USNO, Dec 13). Dec 14: waxing crescent, 27% lit (USNO, Dec 14). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a thin Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town.
- When to lookAMS: “This is the one major shower that provides good activity before midnight, as the constellation Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward.”
- Radiant highestOur calculationAround 2 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Fun fact: the AMS lists the Geminids' parent as “3200 Phaethon (Asteroid)”, a rock rather than a comet. The Orionids in October come from “1P/Halley”: Halley's Comet.
We don't know tonight's clouds. Check a weather forecast before you go, and get as far from city lights as you can.
See every showerDark sky places near you
We list 130 certified dark sky places in 28 states, confirmed on official pages, almost always the managing agency's own. Type a ZIP code to see the closest among the places we list with a distance reference point, by straight-line miles. Your ZIP code goes into the page address.
- Dark Sky Parks 90
- Dark Sky Communities 22
- Dark Sky Reserves 2
- Dark Sky Sanctuaries 10
- Urban Night Sky Places 6
Next meteor showers
Upcoming as of October 12, 2026, the date this page was built.
Orionids: peak night Oct 21–22, 2026. Published ZHR 20 (AMS); what you count is usually lower. Moon 78% lit on Oct 21, 86% on Oct 22 (USNO). Orionids details
Southern Taurids: peak night Nov 4–5, 2026. Published ZHR 5 (AMS); what you count is usually lower. Moon 20% lit on Nov 4, 13% on Nov 5 (USNO). Southern Taurids details
Northern Taurids: peak night Nov 11–12, 2026. Published ZHR 5 (AMS); what you count is usually lower. Moon 6% lit on Nov 11, 11% on Nov 12 (USNO). Northern Taurids details
What to bring
For the grown-ups
- A reclining chair or a thick blanket to lie on
- More layers than you think you need
- A flashlight with a red setting
- The park's hours and night rules, from its own website
For the kids
- A hat, mittens and a sleeping bag
- Snacks and something warm to drink
- A meteor tally sheet and a pencil
- A star chart, or a phone app with a night mode
Questions families ask
When do the Geminids peak in 2026?
The American Meteor Society lists the Geminid peak night as Dec 13–14, 2026, with the shower active Dec 4–17, 2026. The AMS says the Geminids are “usually the strongest meteor shower of the year”.
How many Geminids will we actually see?
Usually fewer than the published number. The AMS gives an average ZHR of 150. ZHR is a standardized rate: what one observer would count in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant straight overhead. It isn't a forecast, and what you count is usually lower. On its major-showers page the AMS says “Geminid rates usually pass 60-70/hour at maximum.”
How bright is the Moon on Geminid night?
The US Naval Observatory shows a waxing crescent Moon, 19% lit on Dec 13 and 27% on Dec 14. That's illumination only. Whether the Moon is up while you watch depends on moonrise and moonset where you are, which we don't calculate.
What is an International Dark Sky Place?
A park, town or other area that DarkSky International has certified for its dark night sky and its outdoor-lighting rules. There are five kinds: Dark Sky Park (a park or other protected land, public or private), Dark Sky Community (a town or city that has adopted outdoor-lighting rules), Dark Sky Reserve (a large area with a dark core and supporting towns around it), Dark Sky Sanctuary (a remote and very dark place) and Urban Night Sky Place (a park near or inside a city, certified for its lighting and public outreach rather than for exceptionally dark skies).
Can you tell us if it will be clear tonight?
No. We don't know tonight's clouds and we never guess. Check a weather forecast for the spot you're heading to.