Meteor Shower Calendar
Next meteor shower peak with ZHR from any date.
What it does
Meteor showers recur as Earth crosses comet debris streams on fixed calendar dates. Peaks run from January Quadrantids through December Geminids and Ursids, each with a zenithal hourly rate for ideal skies.
The tool above takes any date. It returns the next peaking shower with its date and ZHR beside them.
The default June 28 2026 looks 46 days to the Perseids peaking August 13 at ZHR 100. December 1 looks 13 days to the Geminids at ZHR 150, the year strongest.
Peaks and rates follow the International Meteor Organization annual calendar with NASA meteor shower references matching the majors. Both stress moonlight and city glow cut real counts far below ZHR.
How to use
- Enter today date (or any date).
- Read the next shower first.
- Note its peak night for planning.
- Check ZHR for the strength class.
- Drive dark after midnight near peak.
Formula
- ZHR
- Ideal sky hourly rate at peak.
- peak
- Calendar maximum night each year.
- wrap
- December dates roll to next year list.
Annual dates assumed fixed; real maxima drift a day some years. Minor showers and outbursts sit outside these eight majors.
Worked example
Example: June 28 2026
Default date 2026-06-28.
- Later 2026 peaks: Perseids Aug 13, Orionids Oct 22, Leonids Nov 18, Geminids Dec 14, Ursids Dec 22.
- Nearest after June 28: Perseids Aug 13.
- Days: Jun 28 to Jun 30 is 2, plus Jul 31, plus Aug 13: 46 days.
- ZHR 100 tops summer showers; Geminids later beat it at 150.
- Tool shows Perseids, Aug 13, ZHR 100.
Reference table
| Shower | Peak | ZHR |
|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Jan 4 | 110 |
| Lyrids | Apr 22 | 18 |
| Eta Aquariids | May 6 | 50 |
| Perseids | Aug 13 | 100 |
| Orionids | Oct 22 | 20 |
| Leonids | Nov 18 | 15 |
| Geminids | Dec 14 | 150 |
| Ursids | Dec 22 | 10 |
Limits
- Eight majors only; minor showers excluded.
- Peak dates drift about a day yearly.
- ZHR needs perfect skies; cities see fractions.
- Moonlight washes faint meteors near full.
Common mistakes
- Expecting ZHR counts from city balconies.
- Watching before midnight for morning radiants.
- Skipping the night before and after peaks.
- Staring at the radiant instead of wide sky.
- Leaving phones bright and killing night vision.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
Next after Dec 1 2026?
Geminids Dec 14, 13 days away, ZHR 150.
Next after Jan 1 2026?
Quadrantids Jan 4, 3 days away.
Strongest of the year?
Geminids at ZHR 150 every December.
Questions
When is the next meteor shower?
Enter today above; from June 28 it is Perseids August 13.
Best shower of the year?
Geminids mid December at ZHR 150 with evening viewing.
What is ZHR?
Ideal sky hourly rate at peak: dark, moonless, radiant overhead.
Why after midnight?
Earth turns into the stream; morning hours face the radiant.
Moon effect?
Full moons wash faint meteors; new moon peaks read best.
How long to watch?
At least an hour dark adapted, peak night plus neighbors.