Major meteor shower peak dates and ZHR references. Actual visible counts depend on moonlight, clouds, light pollution and observing location.
Moonrise/set, twilight and viewing windows are computed for Taipei time (GMT+8); across East Asia they shift by only tens of minutes.
The Geminids (peaking 2026-12-13) offers the best conditions in 2026: ZHR around 150, with a Waxing Crescent (18% illuminated) on the peak night and Minimal moonlight interference.
ZHR (zenithal hourly rate) is a theoretical rate under perfect conditions — radiant at the zenith, no light pollution, limiting magnitude 6.5. With real skies, moonlight and a lower radiant, expect roughly 10-30% of the ZHR.
No. Meteors streak across large areas of sky, so the naked eye is ideal. Get away from city lights, let your eyes adapt to darkness for 20-30 minutes, and watch a wide patch of sky from a comfortable position.
More than most people expect — a full moon can wash out over 70% of visible meteors. Prefer peaks near new moon, or observe after moonset / before moonrise; this page lists the peak-night moon and the moon-free window for every shower.
| Date | Meteor shower | ZHR | Moon on peak night | Moonlight | Radiant direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | Quadrantids | 120 | Full Moon 100% | Severe | Northeast |
| 2026-04-22 | Lyrids | 20 | Waxing Crescent 34% | Low | Northeast |
| 2026-05-06 | Eta Aquariids | 50 | Waning Gibbous 79% | Severe | East |
| 2026-07-28 | Delta Aquariids | 25 | Waxing Gibbous 99% | Severe | South |
| 2026-08-12 | Perseids | 100 | New Moon 0% | Minimal | Northeast |
| 2026-10-21 | Orionids | 20 | Waxing Gibbous 78% | Severe | Southeast |
| 2026-11-17 | Leonids | 15 | First Quarter 52% | Moderate | East |
| 2026-12-13 | Geminids | 150 | Waxing Crescent 18% | Minimal | East |
| 2026-12-22 | Ursids | 10 | Waxing Gibbous 97% | Severe | North |
Active period 12/28–1/12 · ZHR 120 · Parent body 2003 EH1 · 41 km/s · Radiant direction Northeast · Best hours Pre-dawn hours
The moon is above the horizon all night (about 100% illuminated). Keep it behind you, or try nights before or after the peak with less moonlight.
The radiant sits in northern Boötes (the obsolete Quadrans Muralis) and only rises after midnight, climbing highest before dawn. The peak lasts barely 6 hours, so timing the right night matters more than for any other shower.
Active period 4/14–4/30 · ZHR 20 · Parent body C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) · 49 km/s · Radiant direction Northeast · Best hours After midnight
The moon sets around 23:46, leaving dark skies from then until dawn. Moon-free dark window: 23:46–04:05
The radiant lies near Vega, rising around 22:00 and climbing through the early hours. Rates are modest but the Lyrids occasionally produce bright fireballs, and April nights are comfortable for observing.
Active period 4/19–5/28 · ZHR 50 · Parent body 1P/Halley · 66 km/s · Radiant direction East · Best hours Pre-dawn hours
The moon does not rise until about 22:35, leaving dark skies earlier in the night. Moon-free dark window: 19:48–22:35
Debris from Halley's Comet. The radiant only rises in the east around 3 a.m., leaving a 1–2 hour window before dawn — the lower your latitude the better. Meteors are fast and often leave persistent trains.
Active period 7/12–8/23 · ZHR 25 · Parent body 96P/Machholz · 41 km/s · Radiant direction South · Best hours After midnight
The moon is above the horizon all night (about 99% illuminated). Keep it behind you, or try nights before or after the peak with less moonlight.
A long, flat peak that overlaps the early Perseids. The radiant sits in the southern sky and is best after midnight; meteors are faint, so a genuinely dark site matters more than usual.
Active period 7/17–8/24 · ZHR 100 · Parent body 109P/Swift-Tuttle · 59 km/s · Radiant direction Northeast · Best hours Late evening to dawn (best pre-dawn)
The peak night is essentially moon-free — excellent dark-sky conditions. Moon-free dark window: 19:54–04:04
One of the "big three" showers and the most comfortable to watch, on warm summer nights. Activity picks up from 21–22h and peaks before dawn as the radiant climbs; bright meteors with long trains and fireballs are common.
Active period 10/2–11/7 · ZHR 20 · Parent body 1P/Halley · 66 km/s · Radiant direction Southeast · Best hours After midnight
The moon sets around 01:51, leaving dark skies from then until dawn. Moon-free dark window: 01:51–04:37
Also from Halley's Comet: fast meteors that often leave glowing trains. Wait until Orion is well up in the southeast after midnight; the hours before dawn are best, and autumn nights are pleasant for a trip out of town.
Active period 11/6–11/30 · ZHR 15 · Parent body 55P/Tempel-Tuttle · 71 km/s · Radiant direction East · Best hours Pre-dawn hours
The moon sets around 23:39, leaving dark skies from then until dawn. Moon-free dark window: 23:39–04:52
The fastest meteors of the year (71 km/s), with frequent bright fireballs. The radiant rises around midnight and the pre-dawn hours are best. Every ~33 years, near the parent comet's return, the Leonids can storm.
Active period 12/4–12/17 · ZHR 150 · Parent body 3200 Phaethon · 35 km/s · Radiant direction East · Best hours All night from nightfall
The moon sets around 20:39, leaving dark skies from then until dawn. Moon-free dark window: 20:39–05:08
The year's richest and most reliable shower. Meteors appear from about 20:00 and the radiant passes near the zenith around midnight; medium-speed, often bright meteors make it ideal for beginners. Dress warmly — December nights get cold.
Active period 12/17–12/26 · ZHR 10 · Parent body 8P/Tuttle · 33 km/s · Radiant direction North · Best hours All night from nightfall
The moon is above the horizon all night (about 97% illuminated). Keep it behind you, or try nights before or after the peak with less moonlight.
The radiant in Ursa Minor is circumpolar, so the shower can be watched at any hour of the night. Rates are low — best treated as a bonus while out around the winter solstice.
Related tools: Stargazing & Moon Viewing Score · Moon Phases · Astro Events