When is the best time to see shooting stars?
For most showers the best time is after midnight and before dawn, when your side of Earth faces forward along its orbit. Pick a moonless night near the peak of a major shower such as the Perseids or Geminids.
Shooting stars, or meteors, can appear on any clear night, but timing makes a big difference. On an average night a patient observer under a dark sky may see a handful an hour of these random, or sporadic, meteors. Around the peak of a major shower that can rise to dozens.
The hours before dawn are usually best. After midnight your part of Earth is on the leading side as the planet moves along its orbit, so you meet more meteoroids head-on, a bit like a car windscreen collecting more raindrops at the front than at the back. Shower meteors also depend on the radiant, the point they appear to come from: the higher it is in the sky, the more meteors you will see. For many showers the radiant climbs highest in the small hours. The Geminids are an exception, as their radiant is well up by mid-evening, so you can enjoy them before bedtime.
The Moon matters as much as the calendar. A bright Moon washes out fainter meteors, so check its phase before planning a night out. Peak dates vary slightly each year, and some showers have sharp peaks lasting only hours while others are broad. Popular choices include the Perseids around 12–13 August, comfortable for summer viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, the Geminids around 13–14 December and the Quadrantids in early January. Southern Hemisphere observers get fine views of the Eta Aquariids in early May.
Give yourself at least an hour, allow 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark, and avoid looking at a phone screen. Dress warmly, even in summer, and if you head out at night, go with someone or tell someone where you are.