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Meteor Showers

☄️Orionids
Radiant: Orion
20/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Wed, Oct 21, 2026 · 40 days
🌔waxing_gibbous (78% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Second shower from Halley's Comet. Fast meteors, sometimes leaving glowing trails.

☄️Southern Taurids
Radiant: Taurus
5/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 55 days
🌘waning_crescent (19% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Long-duration weak peak. Produces bright fireballs. Pairs with Northern Taurids.

☄️Northern Taurids
Radiant: Taurus
5/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · 62 days
🌒waxing_crescent (8% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Fireball producer. Debris from comet Encke. Best after midnight.

☄️Leonids
Radiant: Leo
15/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · 67 days
🌓first_quarter (53% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Periodic storms ~every 33 years (last storm 2001). Off-storm years still produce 10-15/hr.

☄️Geminids
Radiant: Gemini
120/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Mon, Dec 14, 2026 · 94 days
🌒waxing_crescent (27% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Often the year's strongest shower. Unique among major showers — originates from an asteroid (3200 Phaethon), not a comet. Bright, multi-colored meteors.

☄️Ursids
Radiant: Ursa Minor
10/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Tue, Dec 22, 2026 · 102 days
🌔waxing_gibbous (97% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Often overlooked due to weather + Geminids fatigue. Circumpolar — visible all night. From comet 8P/Tuttle.

☄️Quadrantids
Radiant: Boötes
110/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sun, Jan 3, 2027 · 114 days
🌘waning_crescent (20% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Sharp peak, only ~6 hours wide. Best viewing pre-dawn. Originates from comet 2003 EH1.

☄️Lyrids
Radiant: Lyra
18/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, Apr 22, 2027 · 223 days
🌖waning_gibbous (98% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

One of the oldest known showers (records back to 687 BC). Originates from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.

☄️Eta Aquariids
Radiant: Aquarius
50/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, May 6, 2027 · 237 days
🌑new (0% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Debris from Halley's Comet. Better viewing from southern hemisphere but KY can see ~20/hr pre-dawn.

☄️Southern Delta Aquariids
Radiant: Aquarius
25/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Fri, Jul 30, 2027 · 322 days
🌘waning_crescent (11% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Long, low peak. Pre-dawn viewing. Pairs with Perseids for late-July activity.

☄️Perseids
Radiant: Perseus
100/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, Aug 12, 2027 · 335 days
🌔waxing_gibbous (75% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

The most popular shower. Debris from comet Swift-Tuttle. Warm August nights make for ideal viewing.

☄️Orionids
Radiant: Orion
20/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, Oct 21, 2027 · 405 days
🌖waning_gibbous (64% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Second shower from Halley's Comet. Fast meteors, sometimes leaving glowing trails.

☄️Southern Taurids
Radiant: Taurus
5/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Fri, Nov 5, 2027 · 420 days
🌒waxing_crescent (39% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Long-duration weak peak. Produces bright fireballs. Pairs with Northern Taurids.

☄️Northern Taurids
Radiant: Taurus
5/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Fri, Nov 12, 2027 · 427 days
🌔waxing_gibbous (98% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Fireball producer. Debris from comet Encke. Best after midnight.

☄️Leonids
Radiant: Leo
15/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Wed, Nov 17, 2027 · 432 days
🌖waning_gibbous (86% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Periodic storms ~every 33 years (last storm 2001). Off-storm years still produce 10-15/hr.

☄️Geminids
Radiant: Gemini
120/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Tue, Dec 14, 2027 · 459 days
🌖waning_gibbous (99% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Often the year's strongest shower. Unique among major showers — originates from an asteroid (3200 Phaethon), not a comet. Bright, multi-colored meteors.

☄️Ursids
Radiant: Ursa Minor
10/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Wed, Dec 22, 2027 · 467 days
🌘waning_crescent (33% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Often overlooked due to weather + Geminids fatigue. Circumpolar — visible all night. From comet 8P/Tuttle.

☄️Quadrantids
Radiant: Boötes
110/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Mon, Jan 3, 2028 · 479 days
🌒waxing_crescent (38% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Sharp peak, only ~6 hours wide. Best viewing pre-dawn. Originates from comet 2003 EH1.

☄️Lyrids
Radiant: Lyra
18/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sat, Apr 22, 2028 · 589 days
🌘waning_crescent (4% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

One of the oldest known showers (records back to 687 BC). Originates from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.

☄️Eta Aquariids
Radiant: Aquarius
50/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sat, May 6, 2028 · 603 days
🌔waxing_gibbous (92% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Debris from Halley's Comet. Better viewing from southern hemisphere but KY can see ~20/hr pre-dawn.

☄️Southern Delta Aquariids
Radiant: Aquarius
25/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sun, Jul 30, 2028 · 688 days
🌔waxing_gibbous (62% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Long, low peak. Pre-dawn viewing. Pairs with Perseids for late-July activity.

☄️Perseids
Radiant: Perseus
100/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sat, Aug 12, 2028 · 701 days
🌗last_quarter (57% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

The most popular shower. Debris from comet Swift-Tuttle. Warm August nights make for ideal viewing.

☄️Orionids
Radiant: Orion
20/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sat, Oct 21, 2028 · 771 days
🌒waxing_crescent (9% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Second shower from Halley's Comet. Fast meteors, sometimes leaving glowing trails.

☄️Southern Taurids
Radiant: Taurus
5/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sun, Nov 5, 2028 · 786 days
🌖waning_gibbous (89% illuminated) — moon will wash out fainter meteors

Long-duration weak peak. Produces bright fireballs. Pairs with Northern Taurids.

☄️Northern Taurids
Radiant: Taurus
5/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Sun, Nov 12, 2028 · 793 days
🌘waning_crescent (22% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Fireball producer. Debris from comet Encke. Best after midnight.

☄️Leonids
Radiant: Leo
15/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Fri, Nov 17, 2028 · 798 days
🌑new (0% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Periodic storms ~every 33 years (last storm 2001). Off-storm years still produce 10-15/hr.

☄️Geminids
Radiant: Gemini
120/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Thu, Dec 14, 2028 · 825 days
🌘waning_crescent (5% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Often the year's strongest shower. Unique among major showers — originates from an asteroid (3200 Phaethon), not a comet. Bright, multi-colored meteors.

☄️Ursids
Radiant: Ursa Minor
10/hr
peak ZHR
Peak: Fri, Dec 22, 2028 · 833 days
🌒waxing_crescent (35% illuminated) — dark skies for prime viewing

Often overlooked due to weather + Geminids fatigue. Circumpolar — visible all night. From comet 8P/Tuttle.

Source: International Meteor Organization (IMO). Peak times approximate — meteors are visible for several days around peak. Best viewing: away from city lights, after midnight, with eyes adjusted to the dark for 20+ minutes.