A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky called Radiant. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. The Meteor Data Center of the IAU lists over 900 suspected meteor showers of which about 100 are well established.

The meteor showers listed below are the easiest to observe and provide the most activity. Particular attention should be noted to the time and moonlight conditions. All these showers are best seen after midnight. Some are not even visible until after midnight. Showers that peak with the moon’s phase greater than one half illuminated (first quarter to last quarter) will be affected by moonlight and difficult to observe.

While the time each shower is best seen remains much the same year after year, the moonlight conditions change considerably from one year to the next. As we approach the date of each shower's maximum, be sure to consult the latest AMS article about Meteor Showers, which will provide in depth information on each shower and how to best view it.

When is the next meteor shower?

Orionids Status: Active from October 2nd to November 7th Peak: Oct 20-21 2020 (Moon 23% full.) Southern Taurids Status: Active from September 10th to November 20th Peak: Oct 29-30 2020 (Moon 98% full.)

Next Peak night

Oct 20-21, 2020

Orionids Next period of activity: October 2nd, 2020 to November 7th, 2020 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. Shower details - Radiant: 06:20 +15.5° - ZHR: 20 - Velocity: 41 miles/sec (swift - 67km/sec) - Parent Object: 1P/Halley Next Peak - The Orionids will next peak on the Oct 20-21, 2020 night. On this night, the moon will be 23% full.

Next Peak night

Oct 29-30, 2020

Southern Taurids Next period of activity: September 10th, 2020 to November 20th, 2020 The Southern Taurids are a long-lasting shower that several minor peaks during its activity period. The shower is active for more than two months but rarely produces more than five shower members per hour, even at maximum activity. The Taurids (both branches) are rich in fireballs and are often responsible for increased number of fireball reports from September through November. Shower details - Radiant: 03:12 +12.8° - ZHR: 5 - Velocity: 16.5 miles/sec (slow - 26.6km/sec) - Parent Object: 2P/Encke Next Peak - The Southern Taurids will next peak on the Oct 29-30, 2020 night. On this night, the moon will be 98% full.

Next Peak night

Nov 11-12, 2020

Northern Taurids Next period of activity: October 20th, 2020 to December 10th, 2020 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 an notable increase in the fireball activity. There seems to be a seven year periodicity with these fireballs. 2008 and 2015 both produced remarkable fireball activity. Shower details - Radiant: 03:52 +22.7° - ZHR: 5 - Velocity: 18 miles/sec (medium - 30km/sec) - Parent Object: 2P/Encke Next Peak - The Northern Taurids will next peak on the Nov 11-12, 2020 night. On this night, the moon will be 15% full.

Next Peak night

Nov 16-17, 2020

Leonids Next period of activity: November 6th, 2020 to November 30th, 2020 The Leonids are best known for producing meteor storms in the years of 1833, 1866, 1966, 1999, and 2001. 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 will be no meteor storms, but perhaps several good displays of Leonid activity when rates are in excess of 100 per hour. The best we can hope for now until the year 2030 is peaks of around 15 shower members per hour and perhaps an occasional weak outburst when the earth passes near a debris trail. The Leonids are often bright meteors with a high percentage of persistent trains. Shower details - Radiant: 10:08 +21.6° - ZHR: 15 - Velocity: 44 miles/sec (swift - 71km/sec) - Parent Object: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle Next Peak - The Leonids will next peak on the Nov 16-17, 2020 night. On this night, the moon will be 5% full.

Next Peak night

Dec 13-14, 2020

Geminids Next period of activity: December 4th, 2020 to December 17th, 2020 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. Shower details - Radiant: 07:28 +32.2° - 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, 2020 night. On this night, the moon will be 1% full.

Next Peak night

Dec 21-22, 2020

Ursids Next period of activity: December 17th, 2020 to December 26th, 2020 The Ursids are often neglected due to the fact it peaks just before Christmas and the rates are much less than the Geminds, which peaks just a week before the Ursids. Observers will normally see 5-10 Ursids per hour during the late morning hours on the date of maximum activity. There have been occasional outbursts when rates have exceeded 25 per hour. These outbursts appear unrelated to the perihelion dates of comet 8P/Tuttle. This shower is strictly a northern hemisphere event as the radiant fails to clear the horizon or does so simultaneously with the start of morning twilight as seen from the southern tropics. Shower details - Radiant: 14:28 +74.8° - ZHR: 10 - Velocity: 20 miles/sec (medium - 32km/sec) - Parent Object: 8P/Tuttle Next Peak - The Ursids will next peak on the Dec 21-22, 2020 night. On this night, the moon will be 50% full.

Next Peak night

Jan 2-3, 2021

Quadrantids Next period of activity: December 27th, 2020 to January 10th, 2021 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. Shower details - Radiant: 15:18 +49.5° - ZHR: 120 - Velocity: 26 miles/sec (medium - 42.2km/sec) - Parent Object: 2003 EH (Asteroid) Next Peak - The Quadrantids will next peak on the Jan 2-3, 2021 night. On this night, the moon will be 84% full.

Next Peak night

Apr 21-22, 2021

Lyrids Next period of activity: April 16th, 2021 to April 30th, 2021 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. Shower details - Radiant: 18:04 +34° - ZHR: 18 - Velocity: 30 miles/sec (medium - 48.4km/sec) - Parent Object: C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) Next Peak - The Lyrids will next peak on the Apr 21-22, 2021 night. On this night, the moon will be 68% full.

Next Peak night

May 4-5, 2021

eta Aquariids Next period of activity: April 19th, 2021 to May 28th, 2021 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. Shower details - Radiant: 22:32 -1° - ZHR: 40 - Velocity: 42 miles/sec (swift - 66.9km/sec) - Parent Object: 1P/Halley Next Peak - The eta Aquariids will next peak on the May 4-5, 2021 night. On this night, the moon will be 38% full.

Next Peak night

Jul 28-29, 2021

Southern delta Aquariids Next period of activity: July 12th, 2021 to August 23rd, 2021 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. Shower details - Radiant: 22:40 -16.4° - ZHR: 16 - Velocity: 26 miles/sec (medium - 41km/sec) - Parent Object: 96P/Machholz? Next Peak - The Southern delta Aquariids will next peak on the Jul 28-29, 2021 night. On this night, the moon will be 74% full.

Next Peak night

Jul 28-29, 2021

alpha Capricornids Next period of activity: July 3rd, 2021 to August 15th, 2021 The Alpha Capricornids are active from July 3 through August 15 with a "plateau-like" maximum centered on July 30. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces in excess of five 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. Shower details - Radiant: 20:28 -10.2° - ZHR: 5 - Velocity: 15 miles/sec (slow - 24km/sec) - Parent Object: 169P/NEAT Next Peak - The alpha Capricornids will next peak on the Jul 28-29, 2021 night. On this night, the moon will be 74% full.