Meteor shower tonight — active showers
A live answer to “when is the next meteor shower”: which showers are active today, tonight's conditions for your location and a full-year shower calendar.
Right now
☄️ Delta Aquariids
- Activity
- 12 Jul – 23 Aug
- Peak
- 30 Jul–31 Jul
- Radiant
- Aquarius
Tonight's conditions
Meteor shower calendar for the year
| Shower | Activity | Peak | ZHR | Radiant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | 28 Dec – 12 Jan | 3 Jan–4 Jan | 110 | Boötes |
| Lyrids | 14 Apr – 30 Apr | 22 Apr–23 Apr | 18 | Lyra |
| Eta Aquariids | 19 Apr – 28 May | 5 May–6 May | 50 | Aquarius |
| Delta Aquariids | 12 Jul – 23 Aug | 30 Jul–31 Jul | 25 | Aquarius |
| Perseids | 17 Jul – 24 Aug | 12 Aug–13 Aug | 100 | Perseus |
| Draconids | 6 Oct – 10 Oct | 8 Oct–9 Oct | 10 | Draco |
| Orionids | 2 Oct – 7 Nov | 21 Oct–22 Oct | 20 | Orion |
| Leonids | 6 Nov – 30 Nov | 17 Nov–18 Nov | 15 | Leo |
| Geminids | 4 Dec – 17 Dec | 13 Dec–14 Dec | 150 | Gemini |
| Ursids | 17 Dec – 26 Dec | 22 Dec–23 Dec | 10 | Ursa Minor |
How to watch a meteor shower
-
1
Get away from city light pollution — 20–30 km out of town is often enough. Light pollution map
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2
Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark and stay off your phone. How dark adaptation works
-
3
Look 40–60° away from the radiant — meteors there are longest and most spectacular. No telescope needed.
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4
The best time is after midnight: Earth turns to face the stream and rates rise.
→ Perseids 2026 · → Meteor shower calendar for the year · → Astro weather
Questions & answers
When is the next meteor shower in 2026? +
Major showers run all year: the Perseids peak on the night of August 12–13, the Geminids on December 13–14, the Quadrantids on January 3–4. The full calendar with every peak is in the table above.
Which meteor shower is visible tonight? +
Check the “Right now” block at the top of this page: it lists the showers active today, their intensity (ZHR) and peak date.
Can I see a meteor shower from a city? +
Only the brightest meteors survive city skies. Drive 20–30 km away from the lights and the count multiplies. The light pollution map helps find dark sky nearby.
Do I need a telescope to watch a meteor shower? +
No. Meteors are watched with the naked eye: take in as much sky as possible and let your eyes adapt to the dark.
Never miss a meteor shower peak
The AstroTools app notifies you before a shower peaks and finds a clear, moonless night for observing.