Meteor Showers!

Updated for 2025!

Meteor showers happen several times throughout the year, but their visibility depends on a few factors, some predictable, some not.  The biggest predictable factor is the Moon phase, so here are the best chances we have to see meteors in the coming months with that in mind:

The Delta Aquariids peak on July 30-31, with around 25 meteors/hour expected at the peak.  The shower was first identified in 1870, but it wasn't until 2008 that the parent comet was discovered, P/2008 Y12 SOHO.

The Perseids peak around August 12, with around 100 meteors per hour expected at the peak.  This year, however, there will be a big gibbous moon interfering with observations, so only the brightest ones will be visible.  This shower was first identified in AD 36, and its parent comet is 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

The Orionids peak on October 21-22, with around 20 meteors/hour expected at the peak.  This shower was first identified in 1839, and its parent comet is the famous 1P/Halley.

The Geminids peak on December 13-14, with up to 150 meteors/hour expected at the peak.  A crescent moon will be interfering slightly with observations, so some of the fainter meteors may not be visible.  This shower was first identified in 1862, and its parent body is the active asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

For all meteor showers, the best viewing is in the early morning, between midnight and sunrise. Find a nice dark area where you can get an open view of the whole sky. Then just lay back and look up! Binoculars or a telescope won't help you here, so just use your eyes.