Meteor showers: which are worth going out for
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Peak dates from the International Meteor Organization. Moon figures are ours.
A shower is worth the trip when it is strong and the Moon is out of the way. We give each one a verdict from those two numbers, so you do not have to decode a calendar.
- Peak night
4 Nov to 5 Nov 2026SkipSouthern Taurids
At best 5 meteors an hour under a perfect sky. Not worth a trip.
Active 20 Sept to 20 Nov. Moon about 18% lit at the peak. Up to 5 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
11 Nov to 12 Nov 2026SkipNorthern Taurids
At best 5 meteors an hour under a perfect sky. Not worth a trip.
Active 20 Oct to 10 Dec. Moon about 7% lit at the peak. Up to 5 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
16 Nov to 17 Nov 2026MaybeLeonids
Moon 45% lit, up to 10 an hour. Go after the Moon sets; check moonset or moonrise for your town.
Active 6 Nov to 30 Nov. Moon about 45% lit at the peak. Up to 10 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
13 Dec to 14 Dec 2026GoGeminids
Up to 150 an hour and a dark sky (Moon 21% lit).
Active 1 Dec to 20 Dec. Moon about 21% lit at the peak. Up to 150 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
21 Dec to 22 Dec 2026SkipUrsids
The Moon is 94% lit and will drown out most meteors.
Active 17 Dec to 26 Dec. Moon about 94% lit at the peak. Up to 10 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
2 Jan to 3 Jan 2027GoQuadrantids
Up to 80 an hour and a dark sky (Moon 20% lit).
Active 28 Dec to 12 Jan. Moon about 20% lit at the peak. Up to 80 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
22 Apr to 23 Apr 2027SkipLyrids
The Moon is 95% lit and will drown out most meteors.
Active 14 Apr to 30 Apr. Moon about 95% lit at the peak. Up to 18 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
5 May to 6 May 2027Goeta Aquariids
Up to 50 an hour and a dark sky (Moon 0% lit).
Active 19 Apr to 28 May. Moon about 0% lit at the peak. Up to 50 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
30 Jul to 31 Jul 2027GoSouthern delta Aquariids
Up to 25 an hour and a dark sky (Moon 9% lit).
Active 12 Jul to 23 Aug. Moon about 9% lit at the peak. Up to 25 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
30 Jul to 31 Jul 2027Skipalpha Capricornids
At best 5 meteors an hour under a perfect sky. Not worth a trip.
Active 3 Jul to 15 Aug. Moon about 9% lit at the peak. Up to 5 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
- Peak night
11 Aug to 12 Aug 2027MaybePerseids
Moon 77% lit, up to 100 an hour. Go after the Moon sets; check moonset or moonrise for your town.
Active 17 Jul to 24 Aug. Moon about 77% lit at the peak. Up to 100 meteors an hour in ideal conditions.
Get a note when it is worth going out
A short email before an eclipse, a strong meteor shower or a dark week worth planning for. No more than a few a month.
How to use this
- “Up to” numbers are the best case (astronomers call it ZHR): a perfectly dark, clear sky with the shower's point of origin high overhead. Expect fewer, especially near towns.
- Meteors can be seen on the nights around the peak too, usually in smaller numbers.
- Give your eyes 15 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Our guide to watching has the rest.
The Moon, next few months
- Full Moon: 26 October 2026
- New Moon: 9 November 2026
- Full Moon: 24 November 2026
- New Moon: 9 December 2026
Moon phases are in universal time and can fall on the next or previous date where you are.
The rule behind the verdicts
Go: 20 meteors an hour or more, and the Moon 35% lit or less. Skip: under 10 an hour, or the Moon 80% lit or more. Everything else is Maybe, and we say whether to look after the Moon sets or before it rises. More on this rule.
Sources
- International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar: peak nights, activity periods and rates, read 24 October 2026.
- Moon light calculated by us: Astronomy Engine 2.1.19; Moon light at 00:00 UTC on the second date of each peak night. For every shower on the list it agrees with the IMO's own Moon figure to within 1 percentage point.