Meteor Shower Calendar
See every major meteor shower of the year with its peak date and time, zenithal hourly rate, radiant and how bright the Moon will be. Enter your location to get the best viewing hours and a realistic meteors-per-hour estimate for your sky.
Last updated:
leave empty for the current year
north positive, south negative
east positive, west negative
How to use the Meteor Shower Calendar
- Pick a year, or leave it empty for the current year.
- Enter your latitude and longitude, or tap a city preset.
- Choose your time zone and how dark your sky is.
- Press Calculate to see the next shower and the full calendar.
- Pick a shower to highlight to see its night chart and best hours.
Major annual meteor showers
| Shower | Usual peak | ZHR | Radiant | Speed | Parent body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Jan 3–4 | 80 (60–200) | Boötes | 41 km/s | Asteroid 2003 EH1 |
| Lyrids | Apr 22–23 | 18 | Lyra | 49 km/s | Comet Thatcher |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5–6 | 50 | Aquarius | 66 km/s | Comet Halley |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30 | 25 | Aquarius | 41 km/s | Probably comet 96P/Machholz |
| Alpha Capricornids | Jul 30 | 5 | Capricornus | 23 km/s | Comet 169P/NEAT |
| Perseids | Aug 12–13 | 100 | Perseus | 59 km/s | Comet Swift–Tuttle |
| Draconids | Oct 8–9 | 10 (variable) | Draco | 20 km/s | Comet Giacobini–Zinner |
| Orionids | Oct 21–22 | 20 | Orion | 66 km/s | Comet Halley |
| Southern / Northern Taurids | Oct 10 / Nov 12 | 5 each | Taurus | 27–29 km/s | Comet Encke |
| Leonids | Nov 17–18 | 15 | Leo | 71 km/s | Comet Tempel–Tuttle |
| Geminids | Dec 13–14 | 150 | Gemini | 35 km/s | Asteroid 3200 Phaethon |
| Ursids | Dec 21–22 | 10 | Ursa Minor | 33 km/s | Comet Tuttle |
Rates and peak positions follow the commonly used values of the International Meteor Organization working list. The calculator computes the exact peak moment for your chosen year from each shower's solar longitude.
How the viewing times are worked out
For the night closest to each peak, the calculator follows the Sun, the Moon and the shower's radiant every 10 minutes for your latitude and longitude. The best window is when the Sun is at least 12° below the horizon and the radiant is near its highest point; time with the Moon above the horizon is ranked lower, more so when it is bright. The expected rate uses HR = ZHR × sin(h) ÷ r(6.5 − LM) with a typical population index r = 2.5, where h is the radiant altitude and LM the faintest star you can see.
Tips for a good meteor night
- Get away from streetlights; every half magnitude of sky darkness lost cuts the count noticeably.
- Allow 20–30 minutes for dark adaptation and use a red light if you need one.
- A reclining chair and warm layers matter more than any equipment, even in summer.
- The night before and after a peak are often almost as good, especially for the broad Perseid and Orionid peaks.
- Meteors appear all over the sky; trace a streak backward to check whether it came from the shower's radiant.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next meteor shower?
Open the calculator with the year empty and it highlights the next major shower after today, with its peak date, Moon phase and the best hours for your location. The big three of the year are usually the Quadrantids (early January), the Perseids (around August 12–13) and the Geminids (around December 13–14).
What does ZHR mean?
Zenithal hourly rate is the number of meteors one observer would see in an hour under a perfectly dark sky (limiting magnitude 6.5) with the radiant directly overhead. Real counts are lower: this calculator uses the standard correction HR = ZHR × sin(radiant altitude) ÷ r^(6.5 − limiting magnitude).
What is the best time of night to watch a meteor shower?
For most showers it is after midnight and before dawn, when your side of Earth faces forward along its orbit and the radiant is high. The Geminids are good from mid-evening, and the Draconids are best in the early evening. The calculator finds the window when the sky is dark and the radiant is highest.
How does the Moon affect a meteor shower?
Moonlight brightens the sky and hides faint meteors, which are the majority. A thin crescent or new Moon is ideal. When the Moon is bright, watch while it is below the horizon, and keep it behind you or blocked by a building or tree.
Do I need a telescope to see meteors?
No. Meteors streak across large parts of the sky, so the naked eye is best. Lie back, look about halfway up and away from the radiant, let your eyes adapt to the dark for 20–30 minutes, and avoid looking at phone screens.
How are the peak dates calculated?
Meteor showers happen when Earth crosses a stream of debris, which occurs at nearly the same point in Earth's orbit every year. That point is given as a solar longitude, and the calculator finds the moment the Sun reaches it in your chosen year. Actual peaks can differ by several hours, and some showers vary in strength.
Can I see meteor showers from the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes, but it depends on the radiant. Showers with southern or equatorial radiants such as the Eta Aquariids, Southern Delta Aquariids, Orionids and Geminids work well, while the Quadrantids and Ursids are barely or not visible. Enter a negative latitude to see the times and rates for your location.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.