Sky highlights & meteor showers

When is the next night worth it? Here you'll find the upcoming meteor showers, oppositions and other celestial events with dates, peak and visibility notes.

What is a meteor shower?

A meteor shower happens when Earth crosses the dust trail of a comet or asteroid. The particles burn up in the atmosphere as “shooting stars” that appear to come from a single point in the sky – the radiant. The rate (ZHR) is how many meteors an observer would see per hour under a perfect, dark sky; in practice it is fewer. You usually see the most after midnight, when the radiant is high and the Moon does not interfere.

Next highlight
Opposition

Neptune at opposition

Neptune lies directly opposite the Sun – visible all night, at its biggest and brightest.

Strong moonlight (100%)
in 11 days
Peak: September 26, 2026
well placed for several weeks around this date

More upcoming events

  • October 4, 2026 in 19 days
    Opposition

    Saturn at opposition

    Saturn lies directly opposite the Sun – visible all night, at its biggest and brightest.

    well placed for several weeks around this date
    Moderate moonlight (41%)
  • October 5, 2026 in 20 days
    Conjunction

    Moon & Mars – close encounter

    Moon and Mars are just 1.1° apart – together in binoculars.

    closest approach
    Moderate moonlight (31%)
  • October 6, 2026 in 21 days
    Conjunction

    Moon & Jupiter – close encounter

    Moon and Jupiter are just 0.2° apart – nicely together in a telescope.

    closest approach
    Low moonlight (21%)
  • October 8, 2026 in 23 days
    Meteor shower

    Draconids

    Very slow meteors from Draco, already in the evening – usually calm, rarely explosive.

    Rate (ZHR) ~10/h Radiant: Draco Speed 20 km/s Origin: Komet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner active October 6, 2026 – October 10, 2026
    Low moonlight (7%)
    Learn more

    An unusually slow shower from Draco, already well placed in the evening. Rates are usually low but occasionally burst dramatically; the parent is comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

  • October 12, 2026 in 27 days
    Conjunction

    Moon & Mercury – close encounter

    Moon and Mercury are just 2.0° apart – together in binoculars.

    closest approach
    Low moonlight (3%)
  • October 22, 2026 in 37 days
    Meteor shower

    Orionids

    Fast meteors from Halley's Comet debris, radiant in Orion – often clear, calm autumn nights.

    Rate (ZHR) ~20/h Radiant: Orion Speed 66 km/s Origin: Komet 1P/Halley active October 3, 2026 – November 8, 2026
    Strong moonlight (88%)
    Learn more

    Fast meteors from the second dust stream of Halley's Comet (1P/Halley), radiant in Orion – often clear, calm autumn nights.

  • November 5, 2026 in 51 days
    Meteor shower

    Southern Taurids

    A slow, broad shower from Taurus, known for bright fireballs.

    Rate (ZHR) ~5/h Radiant: Taurus Speed 27 km/s Origin: Komet 2P/Encke active September 23, 2026 – December 8, 2026
    Low moonlight (17%)
    Learn more

    A slow, broad shower from Taurus, known for occasional bright fireballs. Its parent is comet 2P/Encke.

  • November 7, 2026 in 53 days
    Conjunction

    Moon & Venus – close encounter

    Moon and Venus are just 1.0° apart – nicely together in a telescope.

    closest approach
    Low moonlight (4%)
  • November 12, 2026 in 58 days
    Meteor shower

    Northern Taurids

    The northern branch of the Taurids, slow and rich in fireballs, peaking in November.

    Rate (ZHR) ~5/h Radiant: Taurus Speed 29 km/s Origin: Komet 2P/Encke (Encke-Komplex) active October 13, 2026 – December 2, 2026
    Low moonlight (10%)
    Learn more

    The northern branch of the Taurids, also slow and rich in fireballs, peaking in November. Associated with the Encke complex (comet 2P/Encke).

  • November 16, 2026 in 62 days
    Conjunction

    Mars & Jupiter – close encounter

    Mars and Jupiter are just 1.2° apart – together in binoculars.

    closest approach
    Moderate moonlight (46%)
  • November 17, 2026 in 63 days
    Meteor shower

    Leonids

    Very fast meteors from Leo; in some years with markedly heightened activity.

    Rate (ZHR) ~15/h Radiant: Leo Speed 71 km/s Origin: Komet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle active November 6, 2026 – November 30, 2026
    Moderate moonlight (57%)
    Learn more

    Very fast meteors from Leo, in rare years producing spectacular storms. The parent is comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.

  • November 25, 2026 in 71 days
    Opposition

    Uranus at opposition

    Uranus lies directly opposite the Sun – visible all night, at its biggest and brightest.

    well placed for several weeks around this date
    Strong moonlight (98%)
  • December 14, 2026 in 90 days
    Meteor shower

    Geminids

    The richest shower of the year – up to 150 bright, slow meteors per hour from Gemini.

    Rate (ZHR) ~150/h Radiant: Gemini Speed 35 km/s Origin: Asteroid 3200 Phaethon active December 4, 2026 – December 17, 2026
    Moderate moonlight (30%)
    Learn more

    The richest shower of the year – up to 150 bright, medium-speed meteors per hour from Gemini. Unusually, its parent is the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, not a comet.

  • December 22, 2026 in 98 days
    Meteor shower

    Ursids

    A small shower around the winter solstice, radiant near Polaris.

    Rate (ZHR) ~10/h Radiant: Ursa Minor Speed 33 km/s Origin: Komet 8P/Tuttle active December 17, 2026 – December 26, 2026
    Strong moonlight (98%)
    Learn more

    A small shower around the winter solstice, radiant near Polaris and thus visible all night. Its parent is comet 8P/Tuttle.

  • January 3, 2027 in 110 days
    Meteor shower

    Quadrantids

    A short, intense peak at the start of the year – up to 110 meteors per hour, but lasting only a few hours.

    Rate (ZHR) ~110/h Radiant: Boötes Speed 41 km/s Origin: Asteroid 2003 EH1 active December 27, 2026 – January 11, 2027
    Low moonlight (18%)
    Learn more

    Opens the year with a short but intense peak lasting only a few hours. Its parent is the extinct comet / asteroid 2003 EH1; the medium-fast meteors radiate from Boötes.

  • February 11, 2027 in 149 days
    Opposition

    Jupiter at opposition

    Jupiter lies directly opposite the Sun – visible all night, at its biggest and brightest.

    well placed for several weeks around this date
    Low moonlight (30%)
  • February 19, 2027 in 157 days
    Opposition

    Mars at opposition

    Mars lies directly opposite the Sun – visible all night, at its biggest and brightest.

    well placed for several weeks around this date
    Strong moonlight (98%)
  • April 22, 2027 in 219 days
    Meteor shower

    Lyrids

    A spring meteor shower from Lyra, occasionally producing bright fireballs.

    Rate (ZHR) ~18/h Radiant: Lyra Speed 49 km/s Origin: Komet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) active April 15, 2027 – April 29, 2027
    Strong moonlight (97%)
    Learn more

    A reliable spring shower from Lyra, occasionally producing bright fireballs. The particles come from the long-period comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher).

  • May 6, 2027 in 233 days
    Meteor shower

    Eta Aquariids

    Fast meteors from Halley's Comet – low in the south-east from Central Europe, best just before sunrise.

    Rate (ZHR) ~50/h Radiant: Aquarius Speed 66 km/s Origin: Komet 1P/Halley active April 19, 2027 – May 28, 2027
    Low moonlight (1%)
    Learn more

    Very fast meteors from the debris of Halley's Comet (1P/Halley), radiant in Aquarius. From Central Europe the radiant stays low over the south-east horizon – best in the pre-dawn twilight.

  • May 7, 2027 in 234 days
    Conjunction

    Venus & Saturn – close encounter

    Venus and Saturn are just 0.6° apart – nicely together in a telescope.

    closest approach
    Low moonlight (4%)
  • July 30, 2027 in 318 days
    Meteor shower

    Southern Delta Aquariids

    A mid-rate summer shower from Aquarius with a broad maximum.

    Rate (ZHR) ~25/h Radiant: Aquarius Speed 41 km/s Origin: Komet 96P/Machholz (vermutet) active July 12, 2027 – August 23, 2027
    Low moonlight (9%)
    Learn more

    A mid-rate summer shower from Aquarius, probably from comet 96P/Machholz. The meteors are rather faint and the maximum is broad.

  • July 30, 2027 in 318 days
    Meteor shower

    Alpha Capricornids

    Low rate, but famous for strikingly bright, slow fireballs.

    Rate (ZHR) ~5/h Radiant: Steinbock Speed 23 km/s Origin: Komet 169P/NEAT active July 3, 2027 – August 15, 2027
    Low moonlight (9%)
    Learn more

    A slow, low-rate summer shower, but famous for strikingly bright, slow fireballs. Its parent is comet 169P/NEAT.

  • August 2, 2027 in 321 days
    Solar eclipse

    Partial solar eclipse

    Total over southern Spain, North Africa and Egypt – partial from Germany, roughly a quarter of the Sun covered.

    Low moonlight (0%)
    Learn more

    On 2 August 2027 one of the longest total solar eclipses of the century crosses southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt (Luxor) and Saudi Arabia, with over six minutes of totality. From Germany it is partial; in the south the Moon covers about a quarter of the Sun.

    Important: Only watch with certified eclipse glasses or a certified solar filter – never look at the Sun unprotected.

  • August 13, 2027 in 332 days
    Meteor shower

    Perseids

    The year's most popular meteor shower – warm summer nights with up to 100 meteors per hour radiating from Perseus.

    Rate (ZHR) ~100/h Radiant: Perseus Speed 59 km/s Origin: Komet 109P/Swift-Tuttle active July 18, 2027 – August 25, 2027
    Strong moonlight (86%)
    Learn more

    The most popular shower of the year – warm summer nights with up to 100 fast meteors per hour from Perseus. Its parent is comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

  • August 18, 2027 in 337 days
    Meteor shower

    Kappa Cygnids

    A weak summer shower from Cygnus with occasional fireballs.

    Rate (ZHR) ~3/h Radiant: Cygnus Speed 25 km/s Origin: unsicher (vermutlich Asteroid) active August 4, 2027 – August 26, 2027
    Strong moonlight (98%)
    Learn more

    A weak summer shower from Cygnus with occasional bright fireballs. The exact parent body is uncertain, probably an asteroid.

  • January 12, 2028 in 484 days
    Lunar eclipse

    Partial lunar eclipse

    Visible from Germany. Greatest eclipse around 05:13, with the Moon above the horizon.

    Strong moonlight (99%)
    Learn more

    Part of the Moon moves through Earth's umbra and is visibly darkened.

    Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. It is visible everywhere the Moon is above the horizon (the night side of Earth).

  • June 12, 2029 in 1001 days
    Solar eclipse

    Partial solar eclipse

    Small partial coverage – only a few percent from Germany (mostly in the north).

    Low moonlight (1%)
    Learn more

    On 12 June 2029 a partial solar eclipse occurs, seen mainly across northern Europe, the Arctic and northern Asia. From Germany the Moon covers only a small part of the Sun (a few percent), best in the north.

    Important: Only watch with certified eclipse glasses or a certified solar filter – never look at the Sun unprotected.

  • June 1, 2030 in 1355 days
    Solar eclipse

    Partial solar eclipse

    Annular over North Africa, Greece, Turkey and Asia – partial from Germany.

    Low moonlight (0%)
    Learn more

    On 1 June 2030 an annular solar eclipse runs across North Africa, Greece, Turkey, Russia, China and Japan – the Moon does not fully cover the Sun, leaving a “ring of fire”. From Germany it is partial.

    Important: Only watch with certified eclipse glasses or a certified solar filter – never look at the Sun unprotected.

  • March 20, 2034 in 2743 days
    Solar eclipse

    Partial solar eclipse

    Total over central Africa, the Middle East and South Asia – partial from Germany.

    Low moonlight (1%)
    Learn more

    On 20 March 2034 a total solar eclipse crosses Nigeria, Chad, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India and China. From Germany it is partial, with somewhat greater coverage in the south.

    Important: Only watch with certified eclipse glasses or a certified solar filter – never look at the Sun unprotected.

Visibility depends heavily on weather and the Moon – check the night with the SkyGrade score for your location.