The Major Meteor Showers

The year's first major shower, known for a short, sharp peak lasting only a few hours. A full moon significantly reduces visible rates in 2026.

Parent body: Asteroid 2003 EH1 · Radiant: Boötes · Favors: Northern Hemisphere

A medium-strength shower that can occasionally produce bright fireballs. Favorable moon conditions in 2026.

Parent body: Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) · Radiant: Lyra · Favors: Northern Hemisphere

Debris from Halley's Comet, best seen from the Southern Hemisphere where the radiant sits higher in the sky.

Parent body: Comet 1P/Halley · Radiant: Aquarius · Favors: Southern Hemisphere

The most widely watched shower of the year. A new moon on August 11, 2026 means dark skies all night — the best Perseid viewing conditions in years.

Parent body: Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle · Radiant: Perseus · Favors: Northern Hemisphere

A minor, unpredictable shower best watched right after nightfall, unlike most showers which peak before dawn.

Parent body: Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner · Radiant: Draco · Favors: Northern Hemisphere

A long-running, low-rate shower actually made of two overlapping streams (Southern and Northern Taurids) from debris tied to Comet 2P/Encke. Rates are modest, but the Taurids are well known for producing an unusually high share of bright fireballs.

Parent body: Comet 2P/Encke · Radiant: Taurus · Favors: Northern Hemisphere

Earth's second annual crossing of Halley's Comet debris trail, producing fast, often bright meteors.

Parent body: Comet 1P/Halley · Radiant: Orion · Favors: Both Hemisphere

Historically famous for producing spectacular meteor storms (1833, 1866, 1966, 2001) — no storm is predicted for 2026, but rates are typically reliable.

Parent body: Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle · Radiant: Leo · Favors: Both Hemisphere

Typically the strongest annual shower, producing bright, slow, richly colored meteors. Favorable moon conditions in 2026.

Parent body: Asteroid 3200 Phaethon · Radiant: Gemini · Favors: Both Hemisphere

A minor, often-overlooked shower peaking just before Christmas — a quiet way to close out the meteor year.

Parent body: Comet 8P/Tuttle · Radiant: Ursa Minor · Favors: Northern Hemisphere