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Meteor shower calendar, 2026 to 2027

15 shower peaks worth a blanket in the yard: 6 more in 2026 and 9 in 2027, each with its peak, how many meteors to hope for, the moon and when to look.

Rates are published ZHRs, a best case under a perfectly dark sky. What you count is usually lower, often much lower near city lights. Moon figures: USNO's one-day figure for each calendar date, requested for 39.83° N, 98.58° W (near the center of the contiguous US) at UTC−6. USNO doesn't say what time of day the figure applies to. And we don't know the weather, so check a forecast before you go.

Meteor shower peaks at a glance
Shower	Night	Published ZHR	Moon lit, each date (USNO)
Orionids 2026	Oct 21–22, 2026	20	78% (Oct 21), 86% (Oct 22)
Southern Taurids 2026	Nov 4–5, 2026	5	20% (Nov 4), 13% (Nov 5)
Northern Taurids 2026	Nov 11–12, 2026	5	6% (Nov 11), 11% (Nov 12)
Leonids 2026	Nov 16–17, 2026	15	43% (Nov 16), 53% (Nov 17)
Geminids 2026	Dec 13–14, 2026	150	19% (Dec 13), 27% (Dec 14)
Ursids 2026	Dec 21–22, 2026	10	92% (Dec 21), 97% (Dec 22)
Quadrantids 2027	Jan 3–4, 2027 (suggested)	80	15% (Jan 3), 9% (Jan 4)
Lyrids 2027	Apr 22–23, 2027 (suggested)	18	96% (Apr 22), 92% (Apr 23)
Eta Aquariids 2027	May 5–6, 2027 (suggested)	50	1% (May 5), 0% (May 6)
Southern Delta Aquariids 2027	Jul 30–31, 2027 (suggested)	25	11% (Jul 30), 4% (Jul 31)
Perseids 2027	Aug 12–13, 2027 (suggested)	110+	82% (Aug 12), 89% (Aug 13)
Orionids 2027	Oct 21–22, 2027 (suggested)	20	61% (Oct 21), 50% (Oct 22)
Leonids 2027	Nov 17–18, 2027 (suggested)	15	84% (Nov 17), 75% (Nov 18)
Geminids 2027	Dec 14–15, 2027 (suggested)	150	98% (Dec 14), 94% (Dec 15)
Ursids 2027	Dec 22–23, 2027 (suggested)	10	25% (Dec 22), 17% (Dec 23)

Shower guides

Perseids, Geminids, Quadrantids, Orionids, Eta Aquariids, Leonids, Lyrids, Southern Delta Aquariids, Ursids and Taurids.

Rest of 2026

Dates and rates: American Meteor Society 2026/2027 calendar, read October 12, 2026.

Orionids 2026

Peak night (AMS): Oct 21–22, 2026

Peak night Oct 21–22, 2026, per the AMS calendar.

Active: Oct 2 – Nov 7, 2026
Meteors: Published ZHR: 20 (AMS). AMS: “In a normal year, the Orionids produce 10–20 shower members at maximum.” 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.
Moon: Oct 21: waxing gibbous, 78% lit (USNO, Oct 21). Oct 22: waxing gibbous, 86% lit (USNO, Oct 22). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a bright Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town.
Viewing guidance: The AMS calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 4:30 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Orionids guide

Southern Taurids 2026

Peak night (AMS): Nov 4–5, 2026

Peak night Nov 4–5, 2026, per the AMS calendar.

AMS: “The Southern Taurids are rich in fireballs and are often responsible for an increased number of fireball reports from September through November.”

Active: Sep 20 – Nov 20, 2026
Meteors: Published ZHR: 5 (AMS). 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.
Moon: Nov 4: waning crescent, 20% lit (USNO, Nov 4). Nov 5: waning crescent, 13% lit (USNO, Nov 5). 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.
Viewing guidance: The AMS calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 12:30 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Taurids guide

Northern Taurids 2026

Peak night (AMS): Nov 11–12, 2026

Peak night Nov 11–12, 2026, per the AMS calendar.

AMS: “When the two showers are active simultaneously in late October and early November, there is sometimes a notable increase in fireball activity.”

Active: Oct 20 – Dec 10, 2026
Meteors: Published ZHR: 5 (AMS). 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.
Moon: Nov 11: waxing crescent, 6% lit (USNO, Nov 11). Nov 12: waxing crescent, 11% lit (USNO, Nov 12). 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.
Viewing guidance: The AMS calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 12:30 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Taurids guide

Leonids 2026

Peak night (AMS): Nov 16–17, 2026

Peak night Nov 16–17, 2026, per the AMS calendar.

AMS: “The Leonids are best known for producing meteor storms in 1833, 1866, 1966, 1999, 2001, and 2002.”

Active: Nov 6–30, 2026
Meteors: Published ZHR: 15 (AMS). 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.
Moon: Nov 16: waxing crescent, 43% lit (USNO, Nov 16). Nov 17: waxing gibbous, 53% lit (USNO, Nov 17). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a partly lit Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town.
Viewing guidance: The AMS calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 6:30 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Leonids guide

Geminids 2026

Peak night (AMS): Dec 13–14, 2026

Peak night Dec 13–14, 2026, per the AMS calendar.

AMS: “The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year”. AMS: “The Geminids are often bright and intensely colored.”

Active: Dec 4–17, 2026
Meteors: Published ZHR: 150 (AMS). AMS: “Geminid rates usually pass 60-70/hour at maximum.” 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.
Moon: Dec 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.
Viewing guidance: AMS: “This is the one major shower that provides good activity before midnight, as the constellation Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward.”
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 2 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Geminids guide

Ursids 2026

Peak night (AMS): Dec 21–22, 2026

Peak night Dec 21–22, 2026, per the AMS calendar.

Active: Dec 17–26, 2026
Meteors: Published ZHR: 10 (AMS). AMS: “Observers normally see 5–10 Ursids per hour”. 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.
Moon: Dec 21: waxing gibbous, 92% lit (USNO, Dec 21). Dec 22: waxing gibbous, 97% lit (USNO, Dec 22). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a bright Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town.
Viewing guidance: The AMS calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 8:30 a.m., local mean solar time, which is after sunrise, so the radiant is climbing during the dark hours before dawn. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Ursids guide

2027

Dates and rates: IMO 2027 Meteor Shower Calendar, edited by Jürgen Rendtel. IMO gives peak times in Universal Time; we convert them to Eastern Time and label the conversion. Each suggested observing night is our choice: the US night nearest IMO's maximum, picked for the Eastern US.

Quadrantids 2027

Suggested observing night: Jan 3–4, 2027

Maximum Jan 4, 2027, 03:25 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“Maximum: January 4, 03h 25m UT”). Our conversionThat's Jan 3, 10:25 p.m. EST. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Dec 28 – Jan 12
Meteors: Published ZHR: 80 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Jan 3: waning crescent, 15% lit (USNO, Jan 3). Jan 4: waning crescent, 9% lit (USNO, Jan 4). 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. IMO: “Conditions are perfect concerning the moonlight.”
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 8:30 a.m., local mean solar time, which is after sunrise, so the radiant is climbing during the dark hours before dawn. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Quadrantids guide

Lyrids 2027

Suggested observing night: Apr 22–23, 2027

Maximum Apr 23, 2027, 01:40 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“is expected on April 23, 01h 40m UT”). Our conversionThat's Apr 22, 9:40 p.m. EDT. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Apr 14–30
Meteors: Published ZHR: 18 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Apr 22: waning gibbous, 96% lit (USNO, Apr 22). Apr 23: waning gibbous, 92% lit (USNO, Apr 23). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a bright Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town. IMO: “The April Lyrid maximum shortly after Full Moon has the worst conditions.”
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 4 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Lyrids guide

Eta Aquariids 2027

Suggested observing night: May 5–6, 2027

Maximum May 6, 2027, 09:00 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“Maximum: May 6, 09h UT”). Our conversionThat's May 6, 5:00 a.m. EDT. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Apr 19 – May 28
Meteors: Published ZHR: 50 (IMO). 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.
Moon: May 5: waning crescent, 1% lit (USNO, May 5). May 6: new moon, 0% lit (USNO, May 6). 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.
Viewing guidance: IMO: “only visible in the hours shortly before dawn”.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 7:30 a.m., local mean solar time, which is after sunrise, so the radiant is climbing during the dark hours before dawn. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Eta Aquariids guide

Southern Delta Aquariids 2027

Suggested observing night: Jul 30–31, 2027

Maximum Jul 31, 2027, per the IMO 2027 calendar. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US; IMO gives only a date here, so we assumed the night before it.

Active: Jul 12 – Aug 23
Meteors: Published ZHR: 25 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Jul 30: waning crescent, 11% lit (USNO, Jul 30). Jul 31: waning crescent, 4% lit (USNO, Jul 31). 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. IMO: “The highest CAP and SDA rates are expected end-July with no moonlight interference”.
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 2 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Delta Aquariids guide

Perseids 2027

Suggested observing night: Aug 12–13, 2027

Maximum Aug 13, 2027, 08:00–10:00 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“Maximum: August 13, 08h to 10h UT”). Our conversionThat's Aug 13, 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. EDT. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Jul 17 – Aug 24
Meteors: Published ZHR: 110+ (IMO). 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.
Moon: Aug 12: waxing gibbous, 82% lit (USNO, Aug 12). Aug 13: waxing gibbous, 89% lit (USNO, Aug 13). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a bright Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town. IMO: “a waxing Moon for the Perseid peak”.
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 6 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Perseids guide

Orionids 2027

Suggested observing night: Oct 21–22, 2027

Maximum Oct 22, 2027, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“Orionids (008 ORI) is due on October 22.”). Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US; IMO gives only a date here, so we assumed the night before it.

Active: Oct 2 – Nov 7
Meteors: Published ZHR: 20 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Oct 21: waning gibbous, 61% lit (USNO, Oct 21). Oct 22: third quarter, 50% lit (USNO, Oct 22). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a partly lit Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town.
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 4:30 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Orionids guide

Leonids 2027

Suggested observing night: Nov 17–18, 2027

Maximum Nov 18, 2027, 06:00 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“Maximum: November 18, 06h UT”). Our conversionThat's Nov 18, 1:00 a.m. EST. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Nov 6–30
Meteors: Published ZHR: 15 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Nov 17: waning gibbous, 84% lit (USNO, Nov 17). Nov 18: waning gibbous, 75% lit (USNO, Nov 18). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a bright Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town.
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 6:30 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Leonids guide

Geminids 2027

Suggested observing night: Dec 14–15, 2027

Maximum Dec 14, 2027, around 20:00 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“In the night of the Geminid (004 GEM) maximum on December 14 (centred around 20h UT)”). Our conversionThat's Dec 14, 3:00 p.m. EST. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Dec 4–20
Meteors: Published ZHR: 150 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Dec 14: waning gibbous, 98% lit (USNO, Dec 14). Dec 15: waning gibbous, 94% lit (USNO, Dec 15). Illumination only, which on these dates suggests a bright Moon. It doesn't tell you whether the Moon is up while you watch; check moonrise and moonset for your town. IMO: “severely disturbs visual observations”.
Viewing guidance: The IMO calendar doesn't give a viewing time for this shower.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 2 a.m., local mean solar time. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Geminids guide

Ursids 2027

Suggested observing night: Dec 22–23, 2027

Maximum Dec 23, 2027, 04:00 UT, per the IMO 2027 calendar (“Maximum: December 23, 04h UT”). Our conversionThat's Dec 22, 11:00 p.m. EST. Our choiceThe suggested observing night is the US night nearest that maximum, chosen for the Eastern US.

Active: Dec 17–26
Meteors: Published ZHR: 10 (IMO). 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.
Moon: Dec 22: waning crescent, 25% lit (USNO, Dec 22). Dec 23: waning crescent, 17% lit (USNO, Dec 23). 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.
Viewing guidance: IMO: “The radiant is highest in the sky towards the morning and is moon-free in 2027”.
Radiant highest: Our calculationAround 8:30 a.m., local mean solar time, which is after sunrise, so the radiant is climbing during the dark hours before dawn. Local mean solar time can differ from your clock by an hour or more.
Guide: The Ursids guide

Questions

What does ZHR mean?

Zenithal hourly rate: how many meteors one person would see in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the shower's radiant straight overhead. It's a way to compare showers. Your own count will almost always be lower.

Where do the dates come from?

For showers peaking in the rest of 2026 we use the American Meteor Society's 2026/2027 calendar. For 2027 we use the International Meteor Organization's 2027 Meteor Shower Calendar, which says its maximum dates are accurate only for 2027. We don't reuse an earlier year's dates.

What do you calculate yourselves?

Three things, and they're labelled. The time each shower's radiant is highest in the sky, in local mean solar time, from its position and the date (inputs and formula are on our About page); your clock can differ from local mean solar time by an hour or more because of time zones and daylight saving time. IMO's peak times converted from Universal Time to Eastern Time. And the suggested observing night for each 2027 shower, which is our choice for the Eastern US, not IMO's. Moon phases are the US Naval Observatory's own figures.

Will it be clear on peak night?

We don't know, and we never guess. Check a weather forecast a day or two ahead.