During this period, the moon’s phase will reach its first quarter phase on Saturday December 27th. At that time, the half-illuminated moon will set just prior to midnight (Dec. 28th). The morning hours will be free of moonlight early in this period but as the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will severely hamper meteor observations all night long by the end of the week.
The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 3 as seen from tropical southern locations (25°S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 13 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 11 as seen from tropical southern locations (25°S). Evening rates are reduced by moonlight.
The actual rates observed will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates based on observations from dark-sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity, as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.
The radiant (the area of the sky from which meteors appear to originate) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning, December 27/28. These positions do not change greatly from day to day, so the listed coordinates may be used throughout this entire period. Most star atlases (available online, in bookstores, and at planetariums) include maps with celestial coordinate grids that can help you locate these positions in the sky.
I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart represents the sky directly overhead at the corresponding hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating them accordingly. A planisphere or planetarium app is also useful for showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year.
Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky (culmination), either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight will not reach their highest point in the sky until daylight; therefore, it is best to view them during the last few hours of the night.
It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen directly at the radiant position. Rather, meteors shoot outward from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies near the edge rather than the center. Viewing in this way allows you to trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it belongs to a shower) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not visible from radiants located far below the horizon.
The positions below are listed in west-to-east order by right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located farther west and are therefore accessible earlier in the night, while those listed farther down the list rise later.
Radiant Positions at 18:00 Local Standard Time
Radiant Positions at Midnight Local Standard Time
Radiant Positions at 06:00 Local Standard Time
These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week
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Now that the activity from particles produced by comet 2P/Encke have ceased encountering the Earth, the Taurid showers for 2025 are over and we resume reporting activity from the Anthelion (ANT) radiant. This is not a true radiant, but rather activity caused by the Earth’s motion through space. As the Earth revolves around the sun it encounters particles orbiting in a pro-grade motion that are approaching their perihelion point. They all appear to be radiating from an area near the opposition point of the sun, hence the name Anthelion. These were once recorded as separate showers throughout the year, but it is now suggested to bin them into a category separate from true showers and sporadics. This radiant is a very large oval some thirty degrees wide by fifteen degrees high. Activity from this radiant can appear from more than one constellation. The position listed here is for the center of the radiant which is currently located at 07:16 (109) +22. This position lies in central Gemini, 1 degree northwest of the 4th magnitude star known as Wasat (delta Geminorum). This radiant is best placed near 01:00 local standard time (LST) when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the southern sky. Rates at this time should be near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.
The alpha Hydrids (AHY) were discovered by Dr. Peter Brown and are mentioned in his article “A meteoroid stream survey using the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar”. This shower is active from December 15 through January 22 with maximum activity occurring on January 4th. The radiant is currently located at 08:12 (123) -07. This position lies on the Monoceros/Hydra border, 3 degrees southeast of the 4th magnitude star known as zeta Monocerotis. These meteors are best seen near 0200 LST when the radiant lies highest above the southern horizon. At 45 km/sec. the alpha Hydrids produce meteors of medium velocity. Expected rates this week are less than 1 per hour no matter your location.
The last of the sigma Hydrids (HYD) will be seen this week. The radiant is currently located at 09:28 (142) -03. This area of the sky lies in western Hydra, 6 degrees north of the 2nd magnitude star known as Alphard (alpha Hydrae). This radiant is best placed near 0300 LST, when it lies highest above the southern horizon. Rates should be less than 1 no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 57 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be swift.
The January Leonids (JLE) were discovered by Dr. Peter Brown and are mentioned in the same publication as the Alpha Hydrids. This shower is active from December 28 through January 07 with maximum activity occurring on January 2nd. The radiant is currently located at 09:36 (144) +25. This position lies in northwestern Leo, 2 degrees northwest of the 3rd magnitude star known as Algenubi (epsilon Leonis). These meteors are best seen near 0300 LST when the radiant lies highest above the southern horizon. At 52 km/sec. January Leonids produce meteors of medium-swift velocity. Expected rates this week less than 1 no matter your location.
The last of the kappa Velids (KVE) should be visible this week. The radiant is currently located at 09:36 (144) -51, which places it in central Vela, 2 degrees southwest of the 4th magnitude star known as M Velorum. These meteors are best seen near 0300 LST when the radiant lies highest above the southern horizon. Current rates should be less than 1 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and near 1 per hour as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 43 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed.
The last of the eta Hydrids (EHY) may appear this week. The radiant is currently located at 09:56 (149) -02. This area of the sky lies in western Sextans, 3 degrees southwest of the 4th magnitude star known as Ukdah (alpha Sextantis). This radiant is best placed near 0400 LST, when it lies highest above the southern horizon. Rates should be less than 1 no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 61 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of appear medium-fast.
The Comae Berenicids (COM) are a long duration shower active from December 5th through February 4th. Maximum activity occurred on December 19th. The radiant is currently located at 11:16 (169) +27, which places it in northeastern Leo, 4 degrees south of the 4th magnitude star known as Alula Australis (xi Ursae Majoris). These meteors would be best seen near 05:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Current rates should be near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 as seen south of the equator. At 63km/sec., these meteors would produce mostly swift meteors.
The last of the December chi Virginids (XVI) may be visible from a radiant located at 13:24 (201) -15. This position lies in southern Virgo, 3 degrees south of the 1st magnitude star known as Spica (alpha Virginis). The radiant is best placed in the eastern sky during the last hour before morning twilight when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. Current rates are expected to be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 69 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would possess a swift speed.
The December sigma Virginids (DSV) are active from November 26 to January 24 with maximum activity occurring on December 23rd. The radiant is currently located at 14:12 (213) +03. This position lies in northern Virgo, 2 degrees northeast of the 4th magnitude star known as tau Virginis. The radiant is best placed in the eastern sky during the last hour before morning twilight when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. Current rates are expected to be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 66 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of swift speed.
The Quadrantids (QUA) are active from December 26th through January 16th. Maximum occurred on January 3rd. The radiant is currently located at 15:00 (225) +50. This position lies in a barren past of northern Bootes, 10 degrees north of the 3rd magnitude star known as Nekkar (beta Boötis). These meteors are best seen during the last hour before dawn when the radiant lies highest above the northeastern horizon in a dark sky. Hourly rates are expected to be less than 1 no mater your location. At 41 km/sec. the Quadrantids produce meteors of medium velocity. These meteors are visible from the southern tropics but not seen from the deep southern hemisphere.
Near 12:46 UT* on January 1st, particles from comet 55P/Levy produced in 1897 are predicted to encounter the Earth. Rates are expected to be low, but observers with dark, clear skies at this time should monitor the skies for any activity despite the bright moon. Eastern Asia including China, Korea and Japan are favored locations for this possible outburst. Europe lies in daylight at this time. These meteors may be visible from the southern tropics, but the radiant would be very low and the chances of seeing any activity from these latitudes are remote. The radiant lies at 22:00 (330) +60, which is located in southern Cepheus, 2 degrees northwest of the 3rd magnitude star known as zeta Cephei.
*Rendtel, Juergen, 2026 Meteor Shower Calendar, Page 3 https://www.imo.net/files/meteor-shower/cal2026.pdf
Sporadic meteors are those that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers evolve and disperse over time until they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night.
As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45°N), one would expect to see approximately 8 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn, from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 per hour. From tropical southern latitudes (25°S), morning rates would be around 7 per hour and 2 per hour during the evening. Locations between these two extremes would experience activity between these figures. Evening rates are affected by moonlight.
The list below provides information in tabular form on the active showers that are within reach of the visual observer to discern. Hourly rates are often less than one, so these sources are rarely listed as visual targets in most meteor shower catalogs. If you, like me, wish to associate as many meteors as possible with known sources, you will appreciate these listings.
Before claiming to have observed meteors from these Class IV showers, you should determine whether they truly belong to them and are not chance alignments of sporadic meteors. Note parameters such as duration, length, radiant distance, and elevation of each meteor to help compute the probability of shower association.
It should be remembered that slow meteors can appear in fast showers, but fast meteors cannot be produced by slow showers. Slower showers are those with velocities less than 35 km/sec. Slow meteors can appear from fast showers when they occur close to the radiant or low in the sky.
The table located on page 22 of the IMO’s 2026 Meteor Shower Calendar is a helpful tool for identifying meteors. If you record the length and duration of each meteor, you can use this chart to check the probability of the meteor belonging to a shower of known velocity. If the angular velocity matches the figure in the table, your meteor probably belongs to that shower.
Recognizing meteors from obscure showers is not for beginning meteor observers—it takes many hours of practice to develop an instinct for what you’re seeing. It is our hope that you will move beyond simply watching meteors as a celestial fireworks display and help expand our knowledge of these heavenly visitors by classifying each meteor you observe.
Rates and positions in the table are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning December 27/28.
| SHOWER | DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY | CELESTIAL POSITION | ENTRY VELOCITY | CULMINATION | HOURLY RATE | CLASS |
| RA (RA in Deg.) DEC | Km/Sec | Local Standard Time | North-South | |||
| Anthelion (ANT) | – | 07:16 (109) +22 | 30 | 01:00 | 2 – 1 | II |
| alpha Hydrids (AHY) | Jan 04 | 08:12 (123) -07 | 45 | 02:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| sigma Hydrids (HYD) | Dec 09 | 09:28 (142) -03 | 57 | 03:00 | <1 – <1 | II |
| January Leonids (JLE) | Dec 09 | 09:36 (144) +25 | 52 | 03:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| kappa Velids (KVE) | Dec 26 | 09:36 (144) -51 | 43 | 03:00 | <1 – 1 | II |
| eta Hydrids (EHY) | Dec 08 | 09:56 (149) -02 | 61 | 04:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Comae Berenicids (COM) | Dec 19 | 11:16 (169) +27 | 63 | 05:00 | 2 – 1 | II |
| December chi Virginids (XVI) | Dec 14 | 13:24 (201) -15 | 69 | 07:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| December sigma Virginids (DSV) | Dec 23 | 14:12 (213) +03 | 66 | 08:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Quadrantids (QUA) | Jan 03 | 15:00 (225) +50 | 41 | 09:00 | <1 – <1 | I |
| zeta Cepheids (255P/Levy) | Jan 01 | 22:00 (330) +60 | 18 | 16:00 | ? | III |
You can keep track of the activity of these meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal. You can move the sky globe to see different areas of the sky. Colored dots indicate shower meteors while white dots indicate sporadic (random) activity. The large orange disk indicates the position of the sun so little activity will be seen in that area of the sky.
Class Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their intensity:
- Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates normally ten or better.
- Class II: reliable minor showers with ZHR’s normally two to ten.
- Class III: showers that do not provide annual activity. These showers are rarely active yet have the potential to produce a major display on occasion.
- Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s rarely exceeding two. The study of these showers is best left to experienced observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to determine shower association. These weak showers are also good targets for video and photographic work. Observers with less experience are urged to limit their shower associations to showers with a rating of I to III.
