Meteor Showers Guide 2013

See the Almanac's Meteor Showers Guide for 2013 for the dates of all the principal meteor showers during the year—plus viewing tips.

Meteor Showers Viewing Tips

To answer the most common question: Yes, you can see these meteor showers from ANYWHERE in the sky, provided it's clear and dark, away from all the city lights.
Where to look? The best place to start is near the radiant or "point of origin" of the meteor shower. This is where the flight course starts from.
On below chart, see the "date of maximum" which shows when meteor showers will be the strongest.
Note that the "best viewing" times are usually predawn and late evening—when the Earth turns into the path of meteoroids as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
You don't need any special equipment. In fact, binoculars do not work for meteor showers. The naked eye is best.
Spread a blanket on the ground and look up in the dark night sky.

For more information, click here to read our article, "What are Meteor Showers: Facts About Shooting Stars [2]."

2012 Meteor shower chart

See the monthly Sky Watch [4] for highlights of the night sky and a printable sky map!