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Meteor showers

80 annual meteor showers, major and minor, in date order, including the daytime showers detected by radar, with when they peak, how many meteors to expect and where in the sky to look. Each shower has its own page with viewing tips for the UK and worldwide.

Shower	Peak	Active	Rate (ZHR)	Speed	Radiant
Quadrantids	around 3–4 January	late December to about 12 January	about 80 (variable; roughly 60 to 200)	41 km/s	Boötes (between the end of the Plough's handle and the head of Draco)
Delta Cancrids	around 17 January (historically listed)	about 1–24 January	about 3–4	28 km/s	Cancer (near the star Asellus Australis, Delta Cancri, close to the Beehive Cluster)
Gamma Ursae Minorids	around 18–20 January	about 10–22 January	about 3	31 km/s	Ursa Minor (near the star Pherkad, Gamma Ursae Minoris)
Xi Ursae Majorids	around 21 January	about 17–26 January	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 42 km/s	Ursa Major (near the star Alula Australis, Xi Ursae Majoris, at the Great Bear's back foot)
Daytime Capricornids-Sagittariids	around 1–4 February	mid-January to early February	moderate on radio; not visible by eye	about 30 km/s	On the border of Capricornus and Sagittarius (close to the Sun in the sky)
February Eta Draconids	around 4 February, only in rare years	a few hours around 4 February, when it appears at all	usually none; a weak outburst in 2011	about 36 km/s	Draco (near the star Eta Draconis)
Alpha Centaurids	around 8 February	late January to about 20 February	about 6 (brief bursts of 20–30 in 1974 and 1980)	58 km/s	Centaurus (near Hadar, Beta Centauri)
Daytime Chi Capricornids	around 13–14 February	late January to late February	weak on radio; not visible by eye	about 22 km/s	Capricornus (close to the Sun in the sky)
Gamma Crucids	around 14 February, in active years	mid-February, in active years	usually none; an outburst recorded by cameras in 2021	about 57 km/s	Crux (near Gacrux, Gamma Crucis, at the top of the Southern Cross)
Gamma Normids	around 14–15 March	late February to late March	usually 1–2; around 6 or more in some years	about 56 km/s	Norma (near the star Gamma² Normae, close to the border with Ara)
Antihelion Source	no single peak; slightly richer in late March to April and late June to July	about 10 December to 20 September (the Taurids take over for the rest of the year)	about 2–4	30 km/s	A broad patch on the ecliptic, about 12° east of the point opposite the Sun, moving through the zodiac constellations during the year
Virginids	several weak maxima in March and early April	late January to mid-April	about 2–5	about 30 km/s	Virgo and Leo (several radiants along the ecliptic)
Lyrids	around 22–23 April	about 14–30 April	about 18 (occasional outbursts near 100)	49 km/s	Lyra (near the bright star Vega)
Daytime April Piscids	around 22 April	about 20–26 April	detected by radio; not visible by eye	about 31 km/s	Pisces (close to the Sun in the sky)
Pi Puppids	around 23–24 April	about 15–28 April	variable: usually low, with bursts near 40 when the comet is close to the Sun	18 km/s	Puppis (south of Canis Major)
April Rho Cygnids	around 29 April	late April to early May	very low (detected by radar and video)	about 41 km/s	Cygnus (near the star Rho Cygni, east of Deneb)
h Virginids	around 29 April	about 18 April to 4 May	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 22 km/s	Virgo (near Spica)
Eta Aquariids	around 5–6 May	about 19 April to 28 May	about 50 (varies from year to year)	66 km/s	Aquarius (near the star Eta Aquarii)
Daytime Omega Cetids	around 8–10 May (northern and southern branches)	late April to mid-May	weak on radio; not visible by eye	about 39 km/s	Cetus and Pisces (two radiants close to the Sun in the sky)
Daytime Epsilon Arietids	around 9 May	late April to late May	very weak on radio; not visible by eye	about 24 km/s	Aries (close to the Sun in the sky)
Eta Lyrids	around 9–11 May	about 3–14 May	about 3	43 km/s	Lyra (near the star Eta Lyrae, close to the border with Cygnus)
Daytime May Arietids	around 16 May	early May to early June	very weak on radio; not visible by eye	about 25 km/s	Aries (close to the Sun in the sky)
Daytime Omicron Cetids	around 20 May	early May to early June	weak on radio; a few seen by eye from the tropics	about 39 km/s	Cetus (close to the Sun in the sky)
Camelopardalids	around 24 May, only in some years	around 23–25 May, when it appears	usually none; about 15 at the 2014 display	about 16–20 km/s	Camelopardalis (between the Pole Star and the Plough)
Tau Herculids	around 30–31 May, mainly in outburst years	late May to early June	usually very low; about 60 during the outburst of 31 May 2022	about 16 km/s	Historically Hercules; in 2022 Boötes, north-west of Arcturus
Daytime Arietids	around 7 June	mid-May to late June	about 30 (radio rates higher); few seen by eye	38 km/s	Aries (close to the Sun in the sky)
Daytime Zeta Perseids	around 9 June	late May to early July	strong on radio; very few seen by eye	29 km/s	Near the border of Perseus and Taurus (close to the Sun in the sky)
Gamma Delphinids	11 June (seen only in 1930)	a single burst of about 30 minutes in 1930	unknown; a short flurry in 1930	fast (not reliably measured)	Delphinus (near the double star Gamma Delphini)
June Lyrids	around 15–16 June, in rare years	about 11–21 June, when it appears	usually none; up to about 5 in active years	31 km/s	Lyra (a few degrees south of Vega)
June Epsilon Ophiuchids	around 23 June, in active years	about 19–26 June, in active years	usually very low; an outburst with many fireballs in 2019	about 18 km/s	Ophiuchus (near the star Epsilon Ophiuchi, north of Antares)
June Bootids	around 23–27 June	about 22 June to 2 July	usually near zero; outbursts of 50–100 or more (1998) and 20–50 (2004)	18 km/s	Northern Boötes (near the border with Draco and Hercules)
Daytime Beta Taurids	around 28 June	early June to mid-July	moderate on radio; very few seen by eye	29 km/s	Taurus (near the border with Orion, close to the Sun in the sky)
July Pegasids	around 10–11 July	early to late July	about 3	about 63 km/s	Pegasus (about 5° west of the star Markab, Alpha Pegasi)
Daytime Xi Orionids	around 20 July	early to late July	detected by radar; not visible by eye	about 41 km/s	Orion (near the border with Gemini, close to the Sun in the sky)
July Gamma Draconids	around 28 July	about 25–31 July	about 5	27 km/s	Draco (near Eltanin, Gamma Draconis, the brightest star of the Dragon's head)
Piscis Austrinids	around 28 July	mid-July to about 10 August	about 5	35 km/s	Piscis Austrinus (close to Fomalhaut)
Southern Delta Aquariids	around 30–31 July	about 12 July to 23 August	about 25	41 km/s	Aquarius (near the star Delta Aquarii)
Alpha Capricornids	around 30 July	about 3 July to 15 August	about 5	23 km/s	Capricornus
Iota Aquariids	Southern branch around 4–5 August; Northern branch around 20 August	late July to late August	about 2 for each branch	about 34 km/s	Aquarius (two radiants, the southern one near Iota Aquarii)
Eta Eridanids	around 7 August	about 31 July to 19 August	about 3	64 km/s	Eridanus (near the star Eta Eridani, close to the border with Cetus)
Northern Delta Aquariids	around 8–12 August	mid-July to late August	about 4	42 km/s	Aquarius (north of the Southern Delta Aquariid radiant)
Perseids	around 12–13 August	about 17 July to 24 August	about 100	59 km/s	Perseus
August Beta Piscids	around 13 August	about 1–24 August	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 40 km/s	Pisces (near the star Beta Piscium, in the Circlet below the Great Square of Pegasus)
Kappa Cygnids	around 13–17 August	early to late August	about 3 (higher in some years)	about 23–25 km/s	Cygnus and Draco (near the star Kappa Cygni, moving east during August)
Daytime Gamma Leonids	around 25 August	mid-August to mid-September	uncertain; not visible by eye	about 23 km/s	Leo (near Algieba, Gamma Leonis, close to the Sun in the sky)
Aurigids	around 31 August to 1 September	about 28 August to 5 September	about 6; brief outbursts in 1935, 1986, 1994 and 2007	66 km/s	Auriga (between Capella and the star Beta Aurigae)
September Epsilon Perseids	around 9 September	about 5–21 September	about 5–8; outbursts in 2008 and 2013	64 km/s	Perseus (near the star Epsilon Persei)
Nu Eridanids	around 10–11 September	late August to mid-September	low (detected mainly by video)	about 67 km/s	Eridanus (near the star Nu Eridani, west of Orion)
September Lyncids	around 13 September	about 10 September to 8 October	about 3	60 km/s	Lynx (between Capella and the Plough)
Chi Cygnids	around 14–15 September, in active years	mid-September, mainly in rare active years	usually near zero; weak enhanced activity in 2015	about 19 km/s	Cygnus (near the star Chi Cygni, along the Swan's neck)
Daytime Kappa Leonids	around 21 September	early September to early October	detected by radar; not visible by eye	about 43 km/s	Leo (about 20° from the Sun in the sky)
Arids	around late September to early October, in some years	late September to early October, when Earth meets fresh trails	usually none; weak outbursts in 2021	about 15 km/s	Ara (the Altar, in the far southern sky)
Daytime Sextantids	around 27 September to 1 October	late September to early October	about 5 by eye at best; radar rates equivalent to about 20	about 32 km/s	Sextans (close to the Sun in the sky)
October Camelopardalids	around 5–6 October (a sharp peak lasting under an hour)	about 5–6 October	about 5	about 47 km/s	Camelopardalis (high in the north, near the border with Ursa Major and Draco)
Draconids	around 8–9 October	about 6–10 October	usually under 10, but capable of rare storms	20 km/s	Draco (near the Dragon's head)
Epsilon Geminids	around 18 October	about 14–27 October	about 3	70 km/s	Gemini (near the star Mebsuta, Epsilon Geminorum)
Orionids	around 21–22 October	about 2 October to 7 November	about 20	66 km/s	Orion (north of the bright star Betelgeuse)
Leonis Minorids	around 24 October	about 19–27 October	about 2	62 km/s	Leo Minor (between Leo and the Plough)
Southern Taurids	broad maximum from about 10 October to early November (often quoted around 5 November)	about 10 September to 20 November	about 5	27 km/s	Taurus (south-west of the Pleiades)
Kappa Ursae Majorids	around 5–6 November	late October to mid-November	usually under 1; a short outburst in 2009	about 65 km/s	Ursa Major (below the bowl of the Plough, near the border with Leo Minor)
Andromedids	around 27 November historically; now weak, in late November to early December	late November to early December	usually under 2; storms of thousands an hour in 1872 and 1885	about 19 km/s	Andromeda and Cassiopeia (historically near Gamma Andromedae)
Northern Taurids	around 11–12 November	about 20 October to 10 December	about 5	29 km/s	Taurus (near the Pleiades)
Leonids	around 17–18 November	about 6–30 November	about 15 in most years; storms of thousands per hour in rare years	71 km/s	Leo (in the Sickle)
Omicron Eridanids	around 16–17 November	about 10–27 November	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 29 km/s	Eridanus (near the star Omicron¹ Eridani, south-west of the Pleiades and Hyades)
Alpha Monocerotids	around 21–22 November	about 15–25 November	usually under 5; short outbursts of about 400 in 1995 and about 100 in 2019	65 km/s	Canis Minor and Monoceros (near Procyon)
November Orionids	around 28 November	mid-November to early December	about 3	44 km/s	Orion (north of Betelgeuse, near the border with Gemini and Taurus)
Phoenicids	around 1–2 December	about 1–5 December	variable: about 100 in 1956; weak since	about 15–18 km/s	Phoenix (recent weak returns from nearer the border with Sculptor)
Chi Orionids	around 2–10 December (historically listed)	late November to mid-December	about 2–3	28 km/s	Orion and Taurus (near the star Chi¹ Orionis, in Orion's raised club)
Theta Pyxidids	around 2 December	late November to early December	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 61 km/s	Pyxis (the Compass, south of Hydra's head)
December Kappa Draconids	around 2–3 December	late November to mid-December	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 45 km/s	Draco (near the star Kappa Draconis, between the Plough and the Pole Star)
Psi Ursae Majorids	around 5 December	late November to mid-December	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 62 km/s	Ursa Major (near the star Psi Ursae Majoris, below the bowl of the Plough)
Puppid-Velids	several weak maxima, the main one around 7 December	about 1–15 December	about 10 at best	about 40–44 km/s	Puppis and Vela (a complex of several radiants)
Monocerotids	around 9 December	about 1–19 December	about 3	41 km/s	Monoceros (east of Betelgeuse, near the border with Gemini)
December Alpha Draconids	around 8–9 December	mid-November to late December	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 43 km/s	Draco (near Thuban, Alpha Draconis, between the Plough's handle and the Little Bear)
December Chi Virginids	around 9 December	late November to mid-December	very low (detected mainly by video)	about 69 km/s	Virgo (near the star Chi Virginis, west of Spica)
Sigma Hydrids	around 7–9 December	early to mid-December	about 3–7	58 km/s	Hydra (near the head of the Water Snake, close to the star Sigma Hydrae)
Geminids	around 13–14 December	about 4–20 December	about 150	35 km/s	Gemini (near the bright star Castor)
Ursids	around 21–22 December	about 17–26 December	about 10 (occasional outbursts)	33 km/s	Ursa Minor (near the star Kochab)
Comae Berenicids	around 20–23 December	early December to late January	about 3	65 km/s	Leo Minor and Leo, drifting east towards Coma Berenices during the season
Volantids	around 31 December to 1 January, in active years	late December to early January, in active years	low; notable activity in 2015 and 2020	about 30 km/s	Volans (the Flying Fish, near the south celestial pole)

The rate (ZHR) is how many meteors one observer would see in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead; real counts are usually lower. Dates shift slightly from year to year: see the events calendar for this year's peaks.

Where they come from

Quadrantids Asteroid 2003 EH1 (probably a dormant or extinct comet)
Delta Cancrids No single parent; part of the Antihelion Source
Gamma Ursae Minorids Unknown
Xi Ursae Majorids Unknown
Daytime Capricornids-Sagittariids Unknown
February Eta Draconids An undiscovered long-period comet
Alpha Centaurids Unknown
Daytime Chi Capricornids Unknown
Gamma Crucids An unidentified Halley-type comet
Gamma Normids Unknown
Antihelion Source Many bodies, especially Jupiter-family comets and their scattered dust
Virginids Mixed dust on low-tilt orbits; no single parent
Lyrids Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)
Daytime April Piscids Unknown
Pi Puppids Comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup
April Rho Cygnids Unknown; possibly a Halley-type or Jupiter-family comet
h Virginids Unknown
Eta Aquariids Comet 1P/Halley
Daytime Omega Cetids Unknown
Daytime Epsilon Arietids Unknown
Eta Lyrids Comet C/1983 H1 (IRAS–Araki–Alcock)
Daytime May Arietids Unknown
Daytime Omicron Cetids Unknown
Camelopardalids Comet 209P/LINEAR
Tau Herculids Comet 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 3
Daytime Arietids Probably part of the Machholz complex (linked to comet 96P/Machholz and families of sungrazing comets)
Daytime Zeta Perseids The Taurid complex (linked to comet 2P/Encke)
Gamma Delphinids Possibly an unknown long-period comet
June Lyrids Unknown
June Epsilon Ophiuchids Comet 300P/Catalina
June Bootids Comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke
Daytime Beta Taurids The Taurid complex (linked to comet 2P/Encke)
July Pegasids Probably comet C/1979 Y1 (Bradfield)
Daytime Xi Orionids Unknown
July Gamma Draconids Unknown
Piscis Austrinids Unknown
Southern Delta Aquariids Uncertain; probably linked to Comet 96P/Machholz
Alpha Capricornids Comet 169P/NEAT
Iota Aquariids Unknown; now usually counted as part of the Antihelion Source
Eta Eridanids Comet C/1852 K1 (Chacornac)
Northern Delta Aquariids Uncertain; often linked with the same family of debris as the Southern Delta Aquariids
Perseids Comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle
August Beta Piscids Unknown
Kappa Cygnids Unknown; asteroid 2008 ED69 is a possible relative
Daytime Gamma Leonids Unknown
Aurigids Comet C/1911 N1 (Kiess)
September Epsilon Perseids An unidentified long-period comet
Nu Eridanids Unknown; probably a long-period comet
September Lyncids Unknown
Chi Cygnids An undiscovered Jupiter-family comet
Daytime Kappa Leonids Unknown; a link with comet C/1917 F1 (Mellish) has been suggested
Arids Comet 15P/Finlay
Daytime Sextantids Probably related to asteroid (155140) 2005 UD, and through it to 3200 Phaethon
October Camelopardalids An unidentified long-period comet
Draconids Comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner
Epsilon Geminids Possibly comet C/1964 N1 (Ikeya)
Orionids Comet 1P/Halley
Leonis Minorids Probably comet C/1739 K1 (Zanotti)
Southern Taurids Comet 2P/Encke
Kappa Ursae Majorids Unknown
Andromedids Comet 3D/Biela (broken up and lost since the 1850s)
Northern Taurids Comet 2P/Encke
Leonids Comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle
Omicron Eridanids Unknown
Alpha Monocerotids An unidentified long-period comet
November Orionids Unknown; possibly a long-period comet that has broken up
Phoenicids Comet 289P/Blanpain
Chi Orionids The Taurid complex (linked to comet 2P/Encke)
Theta Pyxidids Unknown
December Kappa Draconids Unknown
Psi Ursae Majorids Unknown
Puppid-Velids Unknown
Monocerotids Comet C/1917 F1 (Mellish)
December Alpha Draconids Unknown
December Chi Virginids Unknown; probably a long-period comet
Sigma Hydrids Possibly comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura)
Geminids Asteroid 3200 Phaethon
Ursids Comet 8P/Tuttle
Comae Berenicids Unknown
Volantids Unknown