Meteor showers visible from India
Meteor showers happen on nearly the same dates every year because Earth meets the same trail of comet dust at the same point in its orbit. Here are the main showers you can watch from India.
| Shower | Usual peak | Parent body | Rate at best (per hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | 3 to 4 January | Asteroid 2003 EH1 | Up to about 80 |
| Lyrids | 22 April | Comet Thatcher | About 18 |
| Perseids | 12 to 13 August | Comet Swift–Tuttle | Up to about 100 |
| Orionids | 21 to 22 October | Comet Halley | About 20 |
| Leonids | 17 to 18 November | Comet Tempel–Tuttle | About 15 |
| Geminids | 13 to 14 December | Asteroid Phaethon | Up to about 120 |
Dates can shift by a day, and rates are for ideal dark-sky conditions. Real numbers depend on the Moon, the weather and how high the shower's radiant is in your sky.
Tips for watching meteors
- Go somewhere dark, away from city lights, and allow 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust.
- Lie back and look at a wide patch of sky. You do not need a telescope or binoculars.
- Meteors seem to fan out from a point called the radiant, in the constellation the shower is named after. You can see them anywhere in the sky.
- Most showers are best after midnight, when your side of Earth turns into the dust stream.
- Check the Moon. A bright Moon hides the fainter meteors.
We hold special meteor shower nights at the observatory. See upcoming sessions, or read about the next one: the Leonids in November 2026.
Common questions
Why do meteor showers happen on the same dates every year?
Earth passes through the same trail of comet or asteroid debris at about the same point in its orbit each year.
Do I need a telescope to watch a meteor shower?
No. Your eyes are best. Lie back in a dark place and look at a wide area of the sky.
Which meteor shower is next?
The Leonids, peaking around 17 to 18 November, best after moonset in the early hours.