Major Meteor Showers and Eclipses in 2026

Next Meteor Shower

Quadrantids

Next period of activity: December 26th, 2025 to January 16th, 2026 

The Quadrantids have the potential to be the strongest shower of the year but usually fall short due to the short length of maximum activity (6 hours) and the poor weather experienced during early January. The average hourly rates one can expect under dark skies is 25. These meteors usually lack persistent trains but often produce bright fireballs. Due to the high northerly declination (celestial latitude) these meteors are not well seen from the southern hemisphere. Predictions for 2026 show a peak near 00:36 UT on January 4th. This timing favors Asia..Activity will be severely compromised in 2026 as a full moon occurs on January 3rd. The bright moonlight will obscure all but the brightest meteors therefore the best hourly rates are expected to be less than 10.

Shower details - Radiant: 15:20 +49.7° - ZHR: 120 - Velocity: 25 miles/sec (medium - 40.4km/sec) - Parent Object: 2003 EH (Asteroid)

Next Peak - The Quadrantids will next peak on the Jan 3-4, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 100% full.

Lyrids

Next period of activity: April 14th, 2026 to April 30th, 2026 

The Lyrids are a medium strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum. These meteors also usually lack persistent trains but can produce fireballs. These meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere where the radiant is high in the sky at dawn. Activity from this shower can be seen from the southern hemisphere, but at a lower rate. In 2026, maximum activity is predicted to occur near 20 UT on April 22nd. On this date the waxing crescent moon will set before the radiant reaches a favorable elevation therefore lunar interference will be minimal in 2026.

Shower details - Radiant: 18:04 +34° - ZHR: 18 - Velocity: 30 miles/sec (medium - 49km/sec) - Parent Object: C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)

Next Peak - The Lyrids will next peak on the Apr 21-22, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 27% full.

eta Aquariids

Next period of activity: April 19th, 2026 to May 28th, 2026 

The eta Aquariids are a strong shower when viewed from the southern tropics. From the equator northward, they usually only produce medium rates of 10-30 per hour just before dawn. Activity is good for a week centered the night of maximum activity. These are swift meteors that produce a high percentage of persistent trains, but few fireballs. In 2026, a waning gibbous moon will severely affect this shower, reducing hourly rates to less than 10.

Shower details - Radiant: 22:32 -1° - ZHR: 50 - Velocity: 40.7 miles/sec (swift - 65.4km/sec) - Parent Object: 1P/Halley

Next Peak - The eta Aquariids will next peak on the May 5-6, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 84% full.

Southern delta Aquariids

Next period of activity: July 12th, 2026 to August 23rd, 2026 

The Delta Aquariids are another strong shower best seen from the southern tropics. North of the equator the radiant is located lower in the southern sky and therefore rates are less than seen from further south. These meteors produce good rates for a week centered on the night of maximum. These are usually faint meteors that lack both persistent trains and fireballs. In 2026, the full moon occurs only two days prior to the peak therefore activity will be severely compromised y the bright moonlight .

Shower details - Radiant: 22:40 -16.4° - ZHR: 25 - Velocity: 25 miles/sec (medium - 41km/sec) - Parent Object: 96P/Machholz?

Next Peak - The Southern delta Aquariids will next peak on the Jul 30-31, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 98% full.

alpha Capricornids

Next period of activity: July 3rd, 2026 to August 15th, 2026 

The alpha Capricornids are active from July 12 through August 12 with a "plateau-like" maximum centered on July 31st. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces in excess of 5 shower members per hour. What is notable about this shower is the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period. This shower is seen equally well on either side of the equator. In 2026, the full moon occurs only two days prior to the peak therefore activity will be severely compromised by the bright moonlight .

Shower details - Radiant: 20:28 -10° - ZHR: 5 - Velocity: 14 miles/sec (slow - 23km/sec) - Parent Object: 169P/NEAT

Next Peak - The alpha Capricornids will next peak on the Jul 30-31, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 98% full.

Perseids

Next period of activity: July 17th, 2026 to August 24th, 2026 

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere. The Perseids are active from July 17 to August 24.. They reach a strong maximum on August 12 or 13, depending on the year. Normal hourly rates seen from rural locations range from 30-50 shower members per hour at maximum. The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle during its numerous returns to the inner solar system. They are called Perseids since the radiant (the area of the sky where the meteors seem to originate) is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the hero. When at maximum activity. In 2026, the moon is new on August 12 so conditions are optimum for viewing this shower.

Shower details - Radiant: 03:12 +58.1° - ZHR: 100 - Velocity: 37 miles/sec (swift - 59km/sec) - Parent Object: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

Next Peak - The Perseids will next peak on the Aug 12-13, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 0% full.

Orionids

Next period of activity: October 2nd, 2026 to November 7th, 2026 

The Orionids are a medium strength shower that sometimes reaches high strength activity. In a normal year the Orionids produce 10-20 shower members at maximum. In exceptional years, such as 2006-2009, the peak rates were on par with the Perseids (50-75 per hour). Recent displays have produced low to average displays of this shower. In 2025, a new moon will occur on October 21st and there will not be any lunar interference at all.

Shower details - Radiant: 06:20 +15.8° - ZHR: 20 - Velocity: 41 miles/sec (swift - 66km/sec) - Parent Object: 1P/Halley

Next Peak - The Orionids will next peak on the Oct 21-22, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 80% full.

Southern Taurids

Next period of activity: September 20th, 2026 to November 20th, 2026 

The Southern Taurids are a complex shower made up of two main components, the annual component which peaks on October 14th and the fireball swarm component which peaks on November 5th. Since 2025 is a swarm year, we will list November 5th as the peak. The Southern Taurids are rich in fireballs and are often responsible for increased number of fireball reports from September through November.

Shower details - Radiant: 03:28 +14.5° - ZHR: 5 - Velocity: 17 miles/sec (slow - 27km/sec) - Parent Object: 2P/Encke

Next Peak - The Southern Taurids will next peak on the Nov 4-5, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 18% full.

Northern Taurids

Next period of activity: October 20th, 2026 to December 10th, 2026 

This shower is much like the Southern Taurids, just active a bit later in the year. When the two showers are active simultaneously in late October and early November, there is sometimes a notable increase in the fireball activity.

Shower details - Radiant: 03:52 +22.2° - ZHR: 5 - Velocity: 18 miles/sec (slow - 29km/sec) - Parent Object: 2P/Encke

Next Peak - The Northern Taurids will next peak on the Nov 11-12, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 7% full.

Leonids

Next period of activity: November 6th, 2026 to November 30th, 2026 

The Leonids are best known for producing meteor storms in the years of 1833, 1866, 1966, 1999, 2001 and 2002. These outbursts of meteor activity are best seen when the parent object, comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, is near perihelion (closest approach to the sun). Yet it is not the fresh material we see from the comet, but rather debris from earlier returns that also happen to be most dense at the same time. Unfortunately, it appears that the earth will not encounter any dense clouds of debris until 2099. Therefore, when the comet returns in 2031 and 2064, there may not be any meteor storms, but perhaps several good displays of Leonid activity when rates are in excess of 100 per hour. Each passing year also presents new possibilities from old debris fields. In 2025, the waning old crescent moon will rise during the late morning hours and will not spoil the best viewing hours for this shower.

Shower details - Radiant: 10:08 +21.8° - ZHR: 15 - Velocity: 43.5 miles/sec (swift - 69.7km/sec) - Parent Object: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

Next Peak - The Leonids will next peak on the Nov 16-17, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 45% full.

Geminids

Next period of activity: December 4th, 2026 to December 17th, 2026 

The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year and meteor enthusiasts are certain to circle December 13 and 14 on their calendars. This is the one major shower that provides good activity prior to midnight as the constellation of Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward. The Geminids are often bright and intensely colored. Due to their medium-slow velocity, persistent trains are not usually seen. These meteors are also seen in the southern hemisphere, but only during the middle of the night and at a reduced rate. In 2025, the moon will have a waning crescent phase on December 13/14, which rises near 2am local standard time. Observations prior to this time will be moon-free. Observations after moon rise can still be successful by facing westward with the rising moon at your back. .

Shower details - Radiant: 07:28 +33° - ZHR: 150 - Velocity: 22 miles/sec (medium - 35km/sec) - Parent Object: 3200 Phaethon (asteroid)

Next Peak - The Geminids will next peak on the Dec 13-14, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 21% full.

Quadrantids

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Next Eclipse 

Feb 17

Lunar Eclipse (Partial)

Europe, West in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica