I suppose we should go over some basic definitions before
we go any further. Meteors are any piece of space debris that lights up in a blazing
streak as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. Before that they are, well, just space
debris. They are called meteorites only after they hit the ground. This is
usually extremely rare. There is no definite number really, but if you have
more than one happening in the same span of time it is usually called a meteorite
shower.
The best time for viewing meteorite showers is usually
very early morning after midnight. (A reason I get to rarely see them.) It’s
kind of a “been there, done that so I don’t feel like getting up that early”
thing for me. They always seem to peak at three in the morning. This is because
we are facing straight forward in our space orbit at that time. Many will take
place in the northern skies, but there are some in the south.
It is important to find a place away from city lights.
Light pollution makes it much harder to see them. The phases of the Moon will
also impact you viewing ability. A new moon or a waxing or waning crescent will
give the best viewing. My friend Randy and I had a favorite place by the White
Tank Mountains west of Phoenix where we would set up lawn chairs, crack open a Pepsi,
and count streaks. They sometimes even come in different colors. The best ones
I remember where green.
Weather also plays a factor in clear viewing. Winter
can often have crisp, clear nights for viewing. However, those of us on the West Coast
may be in for a struggle this winter if the rain predictions hold up. If you have never
stayed up and counted meteors, you ought to try it. Just get warm and comfortable
in a safe place. It’s also much more fun to bring friends. Most meteor
sightings wins!
Here
is a list of 2026-27 Upcoming Meteor Showers
from
https://www.almanac.com/content/meteor-shower-calendar
Perseids
August 12–13, 2026 (peak)
The
Perseids are one of the best meteor showers to observe, with over 50 meteors
per hour at their peak! Plus, we can all enjoy seasonable August nights. In
2026, the Perseids—active from July 17 to August 23, with a maximum August
12–13—will peak during the New Moon, making for optimal viewing conditions. Be
sure to mark your calendar, get out there, and check out this amazing meteor
shower.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: Northeast
Date
of Maximum: August 12–13, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 50
Associated
Comet: Swift-Tuttle Moon
Phase: New Moon
Draconids October 9, 2026 (peak)
The
Draconids aren’t one of the bigger shows of the year, but they do mark the
start of a busy season of meteor showers. After the Draconids, a shower happens
every 1 to 2 weeks until late December.In 2026, the shower will peak when the
Moon is only about 1 percent full, so moonlight will not present any
interference. The best viewing will be in the evening from a dark location far
away from city lights.
Best
Viewing: Late Evening Point
of Origin: Northwest
Date
of Maximum: October 9, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 6
Associated
Comet: Giacobini-Zinner Moon
Phase: Waning Crescent
Orionids October 21–22, 2026 (peak)
The
Orionids are named after one of the most recognizable constellations in the
sky, Orion, from which these meteors appear to radiate. Often featuring some of
the brightest and fastest streaking stars, the Orionids appear in October and
peak this year in the hours before dawn on October 22.
In
2026, the Orionids will be difficult to view. The waxing gibbous Moon will
obscure all but the brightest meteors.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: South
Date
of Maximum: October 21–22, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 15
Associated
Comet: Halley Moon
Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Northern
Taurids November 9, 2026 (peak)
The
Northern Taurid meteor shower is a smaller but steady annual shower that peaks
in early to mid-November. It usually produces only a few meteors per hour, but
what makes it special is that the meteors are often bright fireballs that
streak dramatically across the sky. In 2026, the Northern Taurids will be
visible during the New Moon, making for perfect viewing conditions.
Best
Viewing: Late Evening Point
of Origin: South
Date
of Maximum: November 9, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 3
Associated
Comet: Encke Moon
Phase: New Moon
Leonids
November 17–18, 2026 (peak)
The
Leonid shower is typically an average event with 10 to 15 shooting stars per
hour, but on rare occasions, this shower has been known to produce “meteor
storms,” which result in thousands of meteors streaking across the sky. (We do
not expect meteor storms this year.) In 2026, the Moon will be a waxing
gibbous, obscuring many of the meteors.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: South
Date
of Maximum: November 17–18, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 10
Associated
Comet: Tempel-Tuttle Moon
Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Andromedids November 25–27, 2026 (peak)
The
Andromedid meteor shower is a much lesser-known shower that peaks in late
November, though it’s usually very weak today—just a few meteors per hour. Long
ago, in the 1800s, it produced spectacular storms with hundreds of meteors, but
those days are gone. In 2026, the Andromedids peak just a day after the Full
Moon, making it nearly impossible to view the meteors.
Best
Viewing: Late Evening Point of Origin: South
Date
of Maximum: November 25–27, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 5
Associated
Comet: Biela Moon
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Geminids
December 13–14, 2026 (peak)
The
Geminids are the biggest meteor shower of the year, and the shooting stars
streak across the sky the entire night, with 75 meteors per hour at their peak.
Plus, it gets dark early, so you don’t have to stay up until the early hours to
see the king of the meteor showers. In 2026, the Geminids will happen during a
waxing crescent Moon, making for nearly optimal viewing conditions. So grab a
blanket and a mug of cocoa and look up!
Best
Viewing: All Night Point
of Origin: Northeast
Date
of Maximum: December 13–14, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 75
Associated
Comet: — Moon
Phase: Waxing Crescent
Ursids December 22, 2026 (peak)
The
Ursid meteor shower peaks each year around the winter solstice in late
December, right before Christmas. It’s a smaller shower, producing only a few
meteors per hour, but it sometimes surprises observers with short bursts of
higher activity. Though it’s not the biggest show, the Ursids are a quiet
holiday sky treat for patient stargazers. In 2026, the Ursids will happen
during a waxing gibbous Moon (6 percent full), making for very difficult
viewing conditions.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: North
Date
of Maximum: December 22, 2026 Number
Per Hour: 5
Associated
Comet: Tuttle Moon
Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Quadrantids
January 4, 2027 (peak)
In
the right conditions, the Quadrantids are one of the year’s best meteor
showers, as they feature an average of 25 meteors per hour at their peak. The
Quadrantids’ peak is relatively short, lasting from about midnight to dawn, but
the volume of meteors makes the experience worthwhile.
In
2027, the Moon will be a waning crescent at the Quadrantids’ peak, giving us
optimal viewing conditions. For your best chance of seeing meteors on the 4th
of January just before dawn, see your Moonrise and Moonset times.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: North
Date
of Maximum: January 4, 2027 Number
Per Hour: 25
Associated
Comet: — Moon
Phase: Waning Crescent
Lyrids
April 22, 2027 (peak)
The
Lyrids peak on the night of April 21–22, 2027, when you can expect to see an
average of 10 meteors per hour in dark, clear skies. Rarely, the Lyrids produce
surges of up to 100 meteors per hour. This meteor shower is visible from both
the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but it is much more active in the
Northern Hemisphere, where the meteors’ radiant is high in the sky. In 2027,
the Moon will be a waning gibbous during the Lyrids’ peak, washing out all but
the brightest meteors.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: South
Date
of Maximum: April 22, 2027 Number
Per Hour: 10
Associated
Comet: Thatcher Moon
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Eta
Aquarids May 4, 2027 (peak)
The
debris from Halley’s Comet creates the Eta Aquarids! This meteor shower is most
spectacular in the Southern Hemisphere, where the meteor’s radiant is higher in
the sky. Eta Aquarids are often seen closer to the horizon in the Northern
Hemisphere. In 2027, the Eta Aquarids will happen when there is a waning
crescent (4 percent full). This will make for optimal viewing conditions.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: Southeast
Date
of Maximum: May 4, 2027 Number
Per Hour: 10
Associated
Comet: Halley Moon
Phase: Waning Crescent
Delta
Aquarids (peak) July 30, 2027
The
Delta Aquarids get their name from the constellation Aquarius, from which they
appear to emanate. A weaker shower, the Delta Aquarids typically peak in late
July and produce between 10 and 20 meteors per hour around this time. A truly
dark sky offers the best chance of seeing the Delta Aquarids, as they tend not
to be as bright as some of the other meteor showers. In 2027, the waning
crescent Moon (11 percent full) will offer a chance of viewing some of the
brighter meteors.
Best
Viewing: Predawn Point
of Origin: South
Date
of Maximum: July 30, 2027 Number
Per Hour: 10
Associated
Comet: — Moon
Phase: Waning Crescent
