Is there a meteor shower tonight?
Only minor activity tonight; the Leonids peak in 13 days
Active now: Southern Taurids (ZHR about 6 now, peak Nov 5), Northern Taurids (ZHR about 2 now, peak Nov 12), Orionids (ZHR under 1 now, peak Oct 21). Next major peak: Leonids, Nov 17, 23:45 UT, ZHR ≈15.
The Southern Taurids are at their peak; at 12:30 am the radiant is 64° up. Moon 17% lit, rises 2:50 am. Dark sky 5:50 pm–5:30 am.
| Active shower | Best time | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Taurids | 9:30 pm–3:20 am | 6 |
| Northern Taurids | 9:20 pm–3:20 am | 2 |
| Orionids | 12:40 am–5:30 am | under 1 |
| Leonids | Radiant below the horizon | under 1 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
Active showers
| Shower | Active | Peak | Peak ZHR | ZHR now (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Taurids | Sep 20 – Nov 20 | Nov 5 | 5–10 | 6 |
| Northern Taurids | Oct 20 – Dec 10 | Nov 12 | 5 | 2 |
| Orionids | Oct 2 – Nov 7 | Oct 21 | 20+ | <1 |
Dates and peak ZHR: IMO working list. "ZHR now" is our model of the activity today, not an observation.
Next peaks
Also tonight
If you see a slow, steady light crossing the sky in a few minutes, it is a satellite, not a meteor: what is overhead right now, ISS tonight, planets tonight.
Questions
Is there a meteor shower tonight?
Yes, minor ones: Southern Taurids (ZHR about 6 now, peak Nov 5), Northern Taurids (ZHR about 2 now, peak Nov 12), Orionids (ZHR under 1 now, peak Oct 21). The next major peak is the Leonids on November 17. Pick your city above for tonight's best time and an estimated rate.
What time should I look?
When the radiant of the active shower is highest in a dark sky; for most showers that is between midnight and dawn. The card above gives the window for your city.
How accurate are the hourly rates?
They are estimates. We scale the IMO's ZHR by how high the radiant is and how much moonlight there is, and assume a dark site and a clear sky. Away from the peak we assume the rate halves every few days (hours for sharp showers). Real showers vary from year to year, and clouds or city light can cut the count to nothing.
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.