Meteor shower guide
Meteor Showers in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
The next major meteor shower from Edinburgh is the Orionids on October 21, 2026: good, radiant up to 50° high, best around 5:27 AM.
When each major shower peaks, how high its radiant climbs, the best local time to watch and how much moonlight gets in the way, calculated for 55.95°, -3.19° in the Europe/London time zone.
Next shower
Best local time
Moon at that peak
Best bet from Edinburgh: the Geminids (Dec 13, 2026), rated good.
All major showers from Edinburgh
| Shower | Peak | Radiant max | Best time | Moon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | 50° | 5:27 AM | 81% · up 6.8 of 9.8 h | Good |
| Taurids | Nov 5, 2026 | 49° | 12:57 AM | 11% · up 1.3 of 10.8 h | Good |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | 53° | 5:27 AM | 55% · up 5.3 of 11.3 h | Good |
| Geminids | Dec 13, 2026 | 66° | 2:12 AM | 21% · up 1.8 of 12 h | Good |
| Ursids | Dec 21, 2026 | 66° | 6:12 AM | 94% · up 12.3 of 12.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | 66° | 6:12 AM | 13% · up 0 of 12 h | Good |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | 55° | 2:42 AM | 95% · up 3.3 of 3.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | — | — | 0% · up 0 of 0 h | No true darkness |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | — | — | 9% · up 0 of 0 h | No true darkness |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | 51° | 1:57 AM | 84% · up 0.3 of 1.5 h | Good |
| Draconids | Oct 9, 2027 | 63° | 1:27 AM | 73% · up 4.8 of 8.8 h | Good |
Radiant max is the highest altitude the radiant reaches during astronomical darkness on the peak night. "Up x of y h" counts dark hours with the Moon above the horizon. Rates quoted for each shower (ZHR) are theoretical dark-sky maximums; real counts are lower under city lights or moonlight.
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Meteor showers in Edinburgh: common questions
Which meteor showers can you see from Edinburgh?
Counting only astronomical darkness, a radiant at least 30° up and the Moon below the horizon, the best showers from Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom in the coming cycle are Orionids, Taurids, Leonids, Geminids, Quadrantids, Perseids, Draconids. Other showers may still be visible but with a low radiant or moonlight.
When is the next meteor shower in Edinburgh and when should I watch?
The next major shower is the Orionids, peaking October 21, 2026. From Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom its radiant in Orion reaches 50° during astronomical darkness, highest around 5:27 AM local time (Europe/London). The Moon is 81% illuminated and is up for 6.8 of 9.8 dark hours. Rating: Good.
How does moonlight affect meteor showers in Edinburgh?
A bright Moon above the horizon washes out all but the brightest meteors. This page checks, for each peak night, how many hours of astronomical darkness have the Moon up at Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom's coordinates. The ZHR figure is a theoretical dark-sky maximum, so real counts are lower, especially under city lights or a bright Moon.