Hyperlinks in the list below go to the shower information in Gary Kronk's Meteor Observing Calendar. (Additional sources of information on several major meteor showers are collected on my Meteor Links page.)
(A note about printing: If the list is copied and pasted into a word-processing program, it can be printed in "landscape mode" on many printers using a mono-spaced font such as Courier or Courier New in 8-point or 9-point size, depending on the left and right margin settings.)
Solar Radiant Posit. Rad. Drift Vel.
Long. at Maximum per Day km ZHR
Max. at RA DEC min. deg. per at ALPO
Shower (Activity) Dates Date(s) Max. HH:MM/DEG RA DEC sec Max. R Note Source
----------------- ----------- ----------- ------ --------- --- ---- ---- ---- --- --- ---- ------
### January ###
(N.) Zeta Aurigids 12/11-01/15 01/02 281 04:20/065 +57 IV GK
Quadrantids (QUA) 01/01-05 01/03 283.2 15:20/230 +49 2.0 -0.2 41 133 2.1 I AMS
Gamma Velids (GVE) 12/24-01/23 01/05 285 08:20/125 -47 4.4 -0.2 35 2 3.0 IV AMS
Rho Geminids (1) 12/28-01/28 01/08 288 07:12/108 +32 1.1 -0.2 IV GK
January Draconids 01/10-24 01/13-16 293 16:00/240 +62 IV GK
Alpha Hydrids (AHY) 01/05-02/14 01/14 294 08:52/133 -11 3.6 -0.3 44 2 2.8 IV AMS
Alpha Crucids (ACR) 01/06-28 01/15 294.7 12:48/192 -63 4.4 -0.4 50 3 2.9 IV AMS
January Bootids 01/09-18 01/15-17 295-97 15:04/226 +44 IV GK
Eta Craterids 01/11-22 01/16-17 296-97 11:44/176 -17 IV GK
Delta Cancrids (DCA) 01/01-31 01/17 297 08:40/130 +20 3.6 -0.2 28 4 II ALPO
Eta Carinids 01/14-27 01/21 301 10:40/160 -59 2 IV GK
Alpha Carinids (ACN) 01/24-02/09 01/21 301 06:20/095 -54 1.6 0.0 25 2 2.5 IV AMS
Rho Geminids (2) 12/28-01/28 01/21 301 08:20/125 +25 1.1 -0.2 IV GK
Canids 01/13-30 01/24 303.7 07:32/113 +13 1.0 -0.4 IV GK
Alpha Leonids 01/13-02/13 01/24-31 307 10:24/156 +09 IV GK
### February ###
Aurigids 01/31-02/23 02/05-10 318 04:56/074 +42 0.7 0.3 IV GK
Alpha Centaurids (ACE) 01/28-02/21 02/08 319 14:00/210 -59 5.2 +1.3 56 7 2.0 II AMS
Beta Centaurids 02/02-25 02/08 319 13:52/208 -58 14 IV GK
Delta Velids (DVE) 01/22-02/21 02/14 325 08:44/131 -52 2.0 -0.3 35 1 3.0 IV AMS
Theta Centaurids (TCE) 01/23-03/12 02/14 325 14:00/210 -41 4.4 -0.4 60 4 2.6 IV AMS
Omicron Centaurids (OCE) 01/31-02/19 02/14 325 11:48/177 -56 3.6 -0.4 51 2 2.8 IV AMS
February Leonids (FLE) 02/01-28 SEVERAL 11:00/165 +06 2.0 -0.3 30 5 II ALPO
Delta Leonids (DLE) 02/15-03/10 02/25 336 11:12/168 +16 3.6 -0.3 23 1 3.0 II AMS
Sigma Leonids 02/09-03/13 02/25-26 336 11:20/170 +10 0.9 -0.4 GK
### March ###
Rho Leonids 02/13-03/13 03/01-04 341 10:28/157 +05 IV GK
Pi Virginids 02/13-04/08 03/03-09 342-348 12:08/182 +03 2 IV GK
Leonids-Ursids 03/18-04/07 03/10-11 349 11:44/176 +23 IV GK
Gamma Normids (GNO) 02/25-03/22 03/13 353 16:36/249 -51 4.4 +0.1 56 8 2.4 II AMS
Delta Mensids 03/14-21 03/18-19 358 03:40/055 -80 1 IV GK
Eta Virginids 02/24-03/27 03/18-19 358 12:20/185 +03 1 IV GK
Beta Leonids 02/14-04/25 03/20 000 11:48/177 +11 3 IV GK
Theta Virginids 03/10-04/21 03/20-21 000 12:56/194 -02 1 IV GK
Virginids (VIR) 03/01-04/15 SEVERAL 13:00/195 -04 3.6 -0.3 30 5 II ALPO
Delta Pavonids (DPA) 03/11-04/16 03/29 009 20:32/308 -63 3.6 -0.2 60 5 2.6 IV AMS
Eta Draconids 03/22-04/08 03/29-31 007-009 16:16/244 +62 IV GK
Tau Draconids 03/13-04/17 03/31-04/02 011 19:00/285 +69 IV GK
### April ###
April Virginids 04/01-16 04/07-08 016 IV GK
Alpha Virginids 03/10-05/06 04/07-18 016-027 13:36/204 -11 IV GK
Gamma Virginids 04/05-21 04/14-15 025 12:20/185 -01 IV GK
Librids (LBR) 04/15-30 SEVERAL 15:12/228 -18 4.4 -0.2 30 5 II ALPO
April Ursids 03/18-05/09 04/19 030 09:56/149 +55 IV GK
Lyrids (LYR) 04/16-25 04/21 032 18:04/271 +34 4.4 0.0 49 13 2.9 I AMS
Pi Puppids (PPU) 04/15-28 04/23 033 07:20/110 -45 2.4 -0.2 18 VAR 2.0 III IMO
Alpha Bootids (ABO) 04/14-05/12 04/28 038 14:32/218 +19 3.6 -0.1 20 2 IV ALPO
Mu Virginids (MVI) 04/01-05/12 04/29 039 15:08/227 -07 2.0 -0.3 30 2 IV ALPO
### May ###
Omega Capricornids (WCA) 04/19-05/15 05/02 042 21:00/315 -22 3.6 +0.3 50 2 IV ALPO
Eta Aquarids (ETA) 04/19-05/28 05/05 045 22:32/338 -01 3.6 +0.4 66 37 2.7 I IMO
May Librids 05/01-09 05/06 046 15:32/233 -18 4 IV GK
Eta Lyrids (IAA) 05/12? 052 IV AMS
S. May Ophiuchids 04/21-06/04 05/13-18 055 16:48/252 -23 IV GK
Alpha Scorpiids (ASC) 05/01-31 05/16 056 16:12/243 -21 4.4 -0.1 35 5 II ALPO
Beta Corona Austrinids (CAU) 04/23-05/30 05/16 056 18:56/284 -40 5.2 +0.1 45 3 3.1 IV DMS
Epsilon Aquilids 05/04-27 05/17-18 057 IV GK
N. May Ophiuchids 04/08-06/16 05/18-19 058 16:52/253 -15 2 IV GK
Chi Scorpiids 05/06-07/02 05/28-06/05 068-076 16:20/245 -12 IV GK
### June ###
Omega Scorpiids (OSC) 05/23-06/15 06/02 070 15:56/239 -20 4.0 -0.1 21 5 IV ALPO
Arietids (DAR) 05/22-07/02 06/07 075 02:56/044 +24 2.8 +0.6 38 54 IV IMO
Tau Herculids 05/19-06/19 06/09 077 15:44/236 +31 IV GK
Theta Ophiuchids 05/21-06/16 06/10 077.8 17:40/265 -28 10 IV GK
June Lyrids 06/10-21 06/15 084.5 18:32/278 +35 IV GK
June Aquilids 06/02-07/02 06/16-17 085 IV GK
Phi Sagittariids 06/1-07/15 06/18-19 086.6 18:32/278 -25 5 IV GK
Sagittariids 06/01-07/15 06/19 087 18:16/274 -23 4.0 +0.1 30 5 II ALPO
Ophiuchids 05/19-07/02 06/20 088 17:32/263 -20 6 IV GK
June Scutids 06/02-07/29 06/27 095 18:32/278 -04 2 IV GK
Tau Cetids (CET) 06/18-07/04 06/27 096 01:36/024 -12 3.6 +0.4 66 4 2.5 IV AMS
June Bootids (JBO) 06/26-07/02 06/27 096 14:56/224 +48 1.6 -0.2 18 VAR 2.2 III AMS
Corvids 06/25-07/03 06/27-28 097 IV GK
Tau Aquarids (TAQ) 06/19-07/05 06/29 098 22:48/342 -12 4.0 +0.4 63 3 2.5 IV AMS
Theta (Phi?) Ophiuchids (TOP) 06/04-07/15 06/29 098 16:36/249 -15 4.4 +0.1 29 2 IV ALPO
### July ###
Pegasids (JPE) 07/07-13 07/09 107 22:40/340 +15 3.2 +0.2 70 3 3.0 II AMS
Sigma Capricornids (SCP) 07/15-08/11 07/20 118 20:28/307 -15 4.0 +0.2 30 5 IV ALPO
Tau Capricornids 06/02?-07/29 07/12-13 111 20:20/305 -13 5 IV GK
Alpha Lyrids 07/09-20 07/14 112 18:40/280 +38 1 IV GK
July Phoenicids (PHE) 07/10-16 07/16 113 02:08/032 -48 4.0 +0.2 47 VAR 3.0 III AMS
Omicron Draconids 07/06-28 07/17-18 115 IV GK
Alpha Cygnids (ACG) 07/11-30 07/18 116 20:20/305 +47 2.4 +0.2 37 2 2.7 IV AMS
Piscis Austrinids (PAU) 07/15-08/10 07/27 125 22:44/341 -30 4.0 +0.2 35 3 3.2 II AMS
S. Delta Aquarids (SDA) 07/12-08/19 07/27 125 22:36/339 -16 3.2 +0.2 41 11 3.2 I AMS
Alpha Capricornids (CAP) 07/03-08/15 07/29 127 20:28/307 -10 3.6 +0.3 25 2 2.5 II AMS
### August ###
S. Iota Aquarids (SIA) 07/25-08/15 08/04 132 22:16/334 -15 4.4 +0.2 34 1 2.9 II AMS
N. Delta Aquarids (NDA) 07/15-08/25 08/08 136 22:20/335 -05 4.0 +0.2 42 1 3.4 II AMS
Upsilon Pegasids 08/03-11 136 IV GK
Perseids (PER) 07/17-08/24 08/12 140 03:04/046 +58 5.4 +0.1 59 84 2.6 I AMS
August Eridanids 08/02-27 08/11-12 139 03:20/050 -05 IV GK
Alpha Ursa Majorids 08/09-30 08/14 142 11:00/165 +63 4 IV GK
Kappa Cygnids (KCG) 08/03-25 08/17 145 19:04/286 +59 2.4 +0.3 25 2 3.0 II AMS
N. Iota Aquarids (NIA) 08/11-31 08/20 148 21:48/327 -06 4.0 +0.1 31 3 II ALPO
Pi Eridanids (ERI) 08/20-09/05 08/27 154 03:28/052 -15 3.2 +0.3 59 4 2.8 IV AMS
Gamma Doradids (GDO) 08/19-09/06 08/30 157 04:04/061 -50 2.0 +0.2 41 5 2.8 IV AMS
### September ###
Alpha Aurigids (AUR) 08/25-09/05 09/01 159 04:48/072 +43 4.4 +0.1 66 9 2.5 II AMS
Gamma Aquarids 09/01-14 09/07 164 22:12/333 -05 1 IV GK
September Perseids (SPR) 09/05-30 09/08 166 04:00/060 +47 4.0 +0.2 64 6 3.0 II AMS
Aries-Triangulids (ATR) 09/09-16 09/12 170 02:00/030 +29 4.0 +0.2 35 3 IV ALPO/GK
Piscids (SPI) 09/01-09/30 09/19 177 00:32/008 00 3.6 +0.2 26 3 II ALPO
September Eta Draconids 08/28-09/23 09/12 169 16:30/248 +64 IV GK
Kappa Aquarids (KAQ) 09/08-30 09/18 176 22:36/338 -05 3.6 +0.4 19 3 2.8 IV AMS
Gamma Piscids 09/21-28 09/25 183 23:20/350 +05 4 IV GK
### October ###
Eta Cetids 09/20-11/02 10/01-07 191 01:00/015 -13 IV GK
October Cetids 09/08?-10/30? IV GK
October Cygnids 09/22-10/11 10/04-09 193 20:44/311 +55 IV GK
October Arietids (OAR) 10/01-31 10/08 195 02:08/032 +08 3.6 +0.3 28 5 II ALPO
Draconids/Giacobinids (GIA) 10/06-10 10/08 195 17:28/262 +54 20 VAR III ALPO
Delta Aurigids (DAU) 10/01-23 10/10 197 06:20/095 +49 4.0 +0.2 64 2 3.0 II AMS
(N.) Piscids (SPI) 08/12-10/12 10/12 198 01:44/026 +10 IV GK
Epsilon Geminids (EGE) 10/14-27 10/18 205 06:48/102 +27 4.0 0.0 70 3 3.0 II AMS
Orionids (ORI) 10/02-11/07 10/21 208 06:20/095 +16 4.8 +0.1 66 25 2.9 I AMS
Leo Minorids (LMI) 10/23-25 10/24 211 10:48/162 +37 4.0 -0.4 61 2 2.7 IV AMS
### November ###
Alpha Pegasids 10/2?-11/1? 11/01-12 224 22:45/340 +19 IV GK
S. Taurids (STA) 10/01-11/25 11/05 223 03:28/052 +13 3.2 +0.2 27 4 2.3 II AMS
N. Taurids (NTA) 10/01-11/25 11/12 230 03:52/058 +22 3.2 +0.2 29 4 2.3 II AMS
Delta Eridanids (DER) 11/06-29 11/12 230 03:40/055 -02 3.6 +0.2 31 1 2.8 IV AMS
Zeta Puppids (ZPU) 11/02-12/20 11/13 231 07:48/117 -42 2.8 -0.2 41 3 3.4 IV AMS
Andromedids 09/25-12/06 11/14 232 01:44/026 +37 5 IV GK
Leonids (LEO) 11/14-21 11/17-18 235 10:12/153 +22 2.8 -0.4 71 VAR 2.5 III AMS
Alpha Monocerotids (AMO) 11/15-25 11/21 239 07:48/117 +01 4.4 0.0 65 VAR 2.4 III AMS
### December ###
Puppid-Velids (PUP) 12/01-15 12/07 255 08:12/123 -45 3.2 -0.4 40 4 2.9 II AMS
Chi Orionids (XOR) 11/25-12/31 12/02 250 05:28/082 +23 4.8 0.0 28 3 II ALPO
N. Chi Orionids (XOR) 11/16-12/16 12/10 258 05:28/082 +23 2 IV GK
S. Chi Orionids (XOR) 12/02-18 12/10 258 05:52/088 +20 3 IV GK
Phoenicids (PHO) 11/28-12/09 12/06 254 01:12/018 -53 3.2 +0.4 18 3 2.8 III AMS
Monocerotids (MON) 11/27-12/17 12/08 257 06:40/100 +08 3.2 -0.1 42 2 3.0 II AMS
Delta Arietids 12/08-01/02 12/08-09 258 03:48/057 +22 1 IV GK
11 Canis Minorids 12/04-15 12/10-11 259 07:44/116 +14 1 IV GK
Sigma Hydrids (HYD) 12/03-15 12/11 260 08:28/127 +02 2.8 -0.2 58 2 3.0 II AMS
Geminids (GEM) 12/07-17 12/13 262 07:28/112 +33 4.0 0.0 35 88 2.6 I AMS
Coma Berenicids (COM) 12/12-01/23 12/19 268 11:40/175 +25 3.2 -0.3 65 2 3.0 II AMS
Ursids (URS) 12/17-26 12/22 271 14:28/217 +76 -0.8 -0.3 33 12 3.0 I AMS
(S.) Zeta Aurigids 12/11-01/21 12/31 279 05:08/077 +35 IV GK
Meteor showers are best seen on or near the date of maximum activity. To see a meteor shower at its best the radiant must be more than halfway up in the sky. Unfortunately most showers are best seen only during the early morning hours. Radiants with a positive declination are better seen from the N. Hemisphere while those with minus declinations are better seen from the S. Hemisphere.
The radiant drift is the daily motion in minutes eastward in right ascension and either north or south in tenths of a degree for declination. This is useful for determining the radiant position away from the night of maximum activity. The average drift is 4.0 minutes eastward and 0.2 or 0.3 degrees north or south per day. Please remember that the radiant position will lie west of the listed position before the date of maximum activity and east of the listed position after the date of maximum activity.
"With regards to velocity, 0-25 km/sec. is considered slow, 25-50 km/sec. is considered average, and 50-75 km/sec. is considered swift."
A shower's rating is a measurement of its strength and reliability. The 4 classes are described below:
Explanation of ALPO Ratings
I - The strongest annual showers with ZHR's always above 10 at maximum activity.
II - Dependable minor showers with ZHR's of a least 3 at maximum activity.
III - Showers with irregular rates. The display may be strong one year and totally
absent the next.
IV - Weak minor showers that are difficult to separate from the sporadic background.
These showers are best left to the most experienced observers who use plotting
and velocity to determine a meteor's classification.