Next Meteor Shower
The next meteor shower is the Draconids, which peak on Friday, 9 October 2026 at about 01:00 UTC (in 1 day), with a theoretical rate of up to 5 meteors per hour. Radiant in Draco; best in the early evening from the Northern Hemisphere, and usually weak. At the peak the Moon will be 6% illuminated — the sky will be dark enough for good viewing.
Meteor shower calendar 2026
| Name | Maximum | ZHR | Moon illuminated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draconids | 9 October 2026, 01:00 UTC | 5 | 6% | Radiant in Draco; best in the early evening from the Northern Hemisphere, and usually weak. |
| Orionids | 21 October 2026 | 20 | 77% | Debris from Halley's Comet; radiant in Orion, visible from both hemispheres after midnight. |
| Leonids | 17 November 2026, 23:45 UTC | 15 | 57% | Radiant in Leo; best from after midnight until dawn. |
| Geminids | 14 December 2026, 14:00 UTC | 150 | 27% | Usually the most active shower of the year; radiant in Gemini, visible for most of the night from both hemispheres. |
| Ursids | 22 December 2026, 22:00 UTC | 10 | 98% | Radiant near Kochab in Ursa Minor; visible only from the Northern Hemisphere. |
Source: International Meteor Organization (IMO) 2026 calendar. ZHR is a theoretical rate under a very dark sky with the radiant overhead; the number you actually see is usually lower.
How to watch a meteor shower
You do not need a telescope. Find a dark place away from street lights, give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt, and look at a wide area of sky rather than straight at the radiant. Most showers are best after midnight, when your side of the Earth faces into the stream of debris.
What ZHR means
The zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) is the number of meteors a single observer would see in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant directly overhead. Real counts are usually much lower, especially in cities or under a bright Moon. Clear skies matter most, so check the chance of rain beforehand.