Meteor Shower Calendar
Track major annual meteor showers for the next 10 years (2025–2035). Find peak viewing dates, times, ZHR rates, and real-time moon phase visibility forecasts.
Observer Guide
Meteor Observation Dashboard
Observation Essentials
Maximizing your meteor count depends on basic preparation and understanding local observing conditions.
Best Viewing Hours
- Post-Midnight: The Earth rotates into the meteor stream after midnight, significantly increasing rates.
- Pre-Dawn: Peak rates usually occur in the dark hours just before dawn.
- Darkness: Avoid moonlit hours; wait for the moon to set or observe before it rises.
Observing Tips
- Acclimate Eyes: Allow at least 20-30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to total darkness.
- Lie Down: Use a reclining lawn chair or sleeping bag. Looking straight up covers the most sky.
- Scan Wide: Don't stare directly at the radiant; meteors are longer and brighter further away from it.
Dark Sky Selection (Bortle Scale)
Light pollution is the single greatest factor under your control. Finding a dark site will multiply your count by 5x to 10x.
Bortle Class 1–3 (Excellent Dark Sky)
- ZHR Realization: You will see 90-100% of the active hourly rate.
- Visuals: Faint meteors, Milky Way details, and dust lanes are clearly visible.
- Locations: National parks, deserts, remote wilderness areas.
Bortle Class 4–6 (Suburban / Transition)
- ZHR Realization: You will see only 20-40% of the active hourly rate.
- Visuals: Only major fireballs and bright meteors cut through the light dome.
- Locations: Rural outskirts, outer suburbs, small towns.
Astrophotography Settings
Capturing shooting stars requires manual exposure settings and a rock-solid tripod mount.
Camera Gear & Focus
- Lens: Wide-angle (14mm - 24mm) with a fast aperture of f/1.4 - f/2.8.
- Focus: Switch to Manual Focus. Zoom in on a bright star and adjust until it is a sharp pinpoint.
- Mount: A heavy, stable tripod. Wind gusts will ruin long exposures.
Exposure Settings
- Mode: Full Manual (M), saving in RAW format.
- ISO: 1600 to 6400 depending on light pollution and camera noise levels.
- Shutter Speed: 10s to 25s. Use an intervalometer to shoot continuously.
Meteor Physics & Origins
Meteors are cosmic debris streams left behind by passing comets or asteroids as they orbit the Sun.
ZHR (Zenith Hourly Rate)
The standard index of shower strength. It represents the theoretical number of meteors an observer would see in one hour under a perfectly dark sky (limiting magnitude 6.5) with the radiant directly overhead (at the zenith).
Radiants & Velocity
Meteors appear to diverge from a single point in the night sky called the Radiant, which is named after the host constellation. Entry velocities range from a slow 20 km/s (Draconids) to a blistering 71 km/s (Leonids).
Data note: Visibility predictions are calculated dynamically based on ZHR levels and lunar cycles (calculated using the synodic period from UTC reference points). Active periods are compiled from International Meteor Organization datasets. Local sky visibility depends heavily on atmospheric conditions, cloud cover, and local horizons.