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Meteor showers
Meteor shower calendar 2026
11 showers worth knowing in 2026, with peak times worked out for the UK. The moon is kindest for the Lyrids, Perseids and Geminids.
2026 at a glance
| Shower | Peak (UK) | Rate at best | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Sat 3 January, 12:48 GMT | about 80 an hour | 100% lit |
| Lyrids | Wed 22 April, 11:41 BST | about 18 an hour | 32% lit |
| Eta Aquariids | Wed 6 May, 01:12 BST | about 50 an hour | 84% lit |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Thu 30 July, 04:05 BST | about 25 an hour | 100% lit |
| Perseids | Wed 12 August, 17:47 BST | about 100 an hour | 0% lit |
| Draconids | Thu 8 October, 17:13 BST | about 10 an hour | 4% lit |
| Orionids | Wed 21 October, 10:22 BST | about 20 an hour | 75% lit |
| Taurids | Mon 2 November, 10:08 GMT | about 5 an hour | 44% lit |
| Leonids | Tue 17 November, 14:52 GMT | about 15 an hour | 51% lit |
| Geminids | Mon 14 December, 04:52 GMT | about 150 an hour | 22% lit |
| Ursids | Tue 22 December, 13:20 GMT | about 10 an hour | 96% lit |
Reading the table
Rates are for perfect skies with the radiant overhead; real counts from the UK are lower. Moonlight matters most: below about 25% lit the sky stays dark, while near full moon only bright meteors show. Our peak times come from the Sun's position, so treat them as a guide to within a few hours.
The 2026 highlights
- Quadrantids: 3 January 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- Lyrids: 22 April 2026. Some moonlight, so fainter meteors will be lost for part of the night.
- Eta Aquariids: 6 May 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- Southern Delta Aquariids: 30 July 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- Perseids: 12 August 2026. A dark sky with little moonlight.
- Orionids: 21 October 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- Geminids: 14 December 2026. A dark sky with little moonlight.
Questions answered
What is the best meteor shower in 2026 for the UK?
With dark skies at their peaks, the Lyrids, Perseids and Geminids look best in 2026.
When are the Perseids in 2026?
Around 12 August 2026.
When are the Geminids in 2026?
Around 14 December 2026.
Key facts (summary)
- 11 showers worth knowing in 2026, with peak times worked out for the UK.
- With dark skies at their peaks, the Lyrids, Perseids and Geminids look best in 2026.
- Around 12 August 2026.
- Around 14 December 2026.
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