meteor
Orionids Meteor Shower
Date: Active through Nov 7
The 2026 Orionids have a broad October 21-22 planning window. Moon timing, radiant altitude, and local weather determine the useful predawn hours.
Difficulty: Easy
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2026-10-02 to 2026-11-07 (peak 2026-10-21). After midnight through predawn; exact Moon and weather timing depends on location
Visibility: Both hemispheres where the radiant, Moon timing, clouds, and darkness cooperate
Impact: Special opportunity
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: high
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: moderate
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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Southern Taurids Meteor Shower
Date: Active through Nov 20 | Peak Nov 5
The 2026 Southern Taurids are a broad, low-rate fireball opportunity centered around November 5, not a one-night high-volume display.
Difficulty: Moderate
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2026-09-20 to 2026-11-20 (peak 2026-11-05). Use the clearest, darkest practical window near the broad early-November maximum
Visibility: A broad range of latitudes under dark skies with legal nighttime access
Impact: Improves viewing
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: moderate
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: General stargazers
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Northern Taurids Meteor Shower
Date: Active through Dec 10 | Peak Nov 12
The 2026 Northern Taurids form the later Taurid window, with a broad maximum around November 11-12 and favorable Moon conditions.
Difficulty: Moderate
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2026-10-20 to 2026-12-10 (peak 2026-11-12). Use the clearest dark window across several nights around November 12
Visibility: A broad range of latitudes under dark skies with legal nighttime access
Impact: Improves viewing
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: moderate
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: General stargazers
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Leonids Meteor Shower
Date: Nov 6-Nov 30 | Peak Nov 17
The 2026 Leonids are a normal, modest return. Weak modeled trail encounters do not support a storm or significant outburst claim.
Difficulty: Moderate
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2026-11-06 to 2026-11-30 (peak 2026-11-17). After midnight through predawn; convert the UTC reference maxima for the observer location
Visibility: Both hemispheres, with local radiant altitude and darkness determining practical visibility
Impact: Improves viewing
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: moderate
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: moderate
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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Geminids Meteor Shower
Date: Dec 4-Dec 20 | Peak Dec 14
The Geminids frequently deliver dense meteor activity and are one of the best annual opportunities for casual observers and photographers.
Difficulty: Easy
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2026-12-04 to 2026-12-20 (peak 2026-12-14). Late evening through pre-dawn
Visibility: Nationwide where clouds and moon interference stay low
Impact: Special opportunity
Rarity: uncommon
Excitement: high
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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Penumbral Lunar Eclipse February 20-21, 2027
Date: Feb 20-Feb 21 | Peak Feb 20
A subtle penumbral lunar eclipse; local Moon position and clouds determine whether it is observable.
Difficulty: Easy
Moon sensitivity: Medium
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-02-20 to 2027-02-21 (peak 2027-02-20). Use the authoritative UTC event window, convert it to local time, and confirm the Moon is above the local horizon.
Visibility: NASA lists broad visibility across the Americas and other regions; check local Moon position and phase circumstances.
Impact: Special opportunity
Rarity: uncommon
Excitement: high
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: strong
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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Lyrids Meteor Shower
Date: Apr 14-Apr 30
The 2027 Lyrids are active April 14-30; NASA and AMS label adjacent candidate peak nights without establishing a precise maximum.
Difficulty: Easy
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-04-14 to 2027-04-30. Compare the adjacent NASA- and AMS-labeled overnight windows April 21-22 and April 22-23; check local moonset and forecasts; no exact maximum is assigned
Visibility: Northern Hemisphere favored, including much of the U.S. under dark skies
Impact: Improves viewing
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: moderate
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: moderate
Urgency: moderate
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower 2027
Date: Apr 19-May 28
The 2027 Eta Aquariids are active April 19-May 28, with a May 5-6 peak-night label; southern latitudes are favored and no exact maximum instant is assigned.
Difficulty: Moderate
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-04-19 to 2027-05-28. Use May 5-6 as the published peak-night label, not a precise maximum instant. Compare nearby pre-dawn sessions against local radiant altitude, twilight, Moon position and forecast.
Visibility: Visible from both hemispheres; southern tropics favored. U.S. rates are generally lower; check local pre-dawn radiant height.
Impact: Special opportunity
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: high
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: moderate
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: Photographers and detail-focused observers
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Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower
Date: Jul 3-Aug 15
2027 AMS peak-night label July 30-31; 14% waning crescent. AMS activity endpoints conflict; local Moon overlap and viewing conditions vary.
Difficulty: Moderate
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-07-03 to 2027-08-15. AMS peak-night label July 30-31; no exact maximum instant or universal local hour. Check local Moon timing, darkness and clouds.
Visibility: AMS says visible on either side of the equator; local radiant altitude, horizon and sky conditions vary.
Impact: Improves viewing
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: moderate
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: moderate
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: General stargazers
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Southern Delta Aquariids
Date: Jul 12-Aug 23
The 2027 Southern Delta Aquariids are active July 12-August 23, with a July 30-31 AMS peak-night label; southern latitudes are favored and no exact maximum instant is assigned.
Difficulty: Moderate
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-07-12 to 2027-08-23. Use July 30-31 as the AMS peak-night label, not a precise maximum instant. Compare nearby active nights using local radiant altitude, darkness, Moon position and forecast.
Visibility: Southern tropics and Southern Hemisphere favored; reduced potential farther north
Impact: Improves viewing
Rarity: seasonal
Excitement: moderate
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: moderate
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: General stargazers
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Perseids Meteor Shower
Date: Jul 17-Aug 24
The Perseids are active July 17-August 24, 2027. AMS labels August 12-13 as the peak night and lists a 79% waxing gibbous Moon; no precise maximum instant or personal count is promised.
Difficulty: Easy
Moon sensitivity: High
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-07-17 to 2027-08-24. AMS labels Aug 12-13 as the 2027 peak night but provides no precise maximum instant; compare local late-night and pre-dawn Moon, radiant, darkness, weather and horizon conditions
Visibility: Northern Hemisphere and dark U.S. skies away from urban glow
Impact: Special opportunity
Rarity: uncommon
Excitement: high
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: moderate
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: moderate
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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August 2, 2027 Total Solar Eclipse
Date: Peak Aug 2
A daytime total solar eclipse abroad; NASA lists only broad partial visibility in northern Maine in the U.S. Safe solar protection is required for any direct partial view.
Difficulty: Easy
Moon sensitivity: Medium
Planning details
Timing: Window: 2027-08-02 to 2027-08-02 (peak 2027-08-02). Use an authoritative location-specific eclipse map for local daytime circumstances. Weather and an unobstructed solar horizon determine local visibility.
Visibility: NASA lists totality in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen; its broad partial-visibility summary includes northern Maine. Check local circumstances; no U.S. totality.
Impact: Special opportunity
Rarity: rare
Excitement: exceptional
Timing status: fresh
Timing confidence: high
Urgency: high
Travel relevance: strong
Who should care: Beginners and first-time observers
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