List of meteor showers
Here’s a practical “all the ones that matter” list, with 2025 peak nights and typical peak rates (ZHR under dark, clear skies). For the exhaustive working list (including many minor/variable streams), see the IMO table I cite at the end.
Major annual showers (based on calendar for 2025):
- Quadrantids — peak night Jan 2–3 — ZHR ~110.
- Lyrids — Apr 21–22 — ZHR ~18.
- Eta Aquariids — May 5–6 — ZHR ~50.
- Southern Delta Aquariids — Jul 29–30 — ZHR ~25.
- Alpha Capricornids — Jul 30–31 — ZHR ~5 (nice fireballs).
- Perseids — Aug 12 — ZHR ~100 (often quoted up to 150).
- Draconids — Oct 8 — ZHR ~5 typical, but highly variable.
- Orionids — Oct 21 — ZHR ~20.
- Southern Taurids — Nov 5 — ZHR ~5 (Taurid swarm year indications in early Nov).
- Northern Taurids — Nov 12–13 — ZHR ~5.
- Leonids — Nov 17 — ZHR ~10–15.
- Phoenicids — Dec 1–2 — variable (can flare; usually low).
- Puppid–Velids complex — Dec 7 — variable, generally low visually.
- Monocerotids — Dec 9 — ZHR ~2 (outburst-capable, none expected 2025).
- Sigma Hydrids — Dec 9 — ZHR ~7.
- Geminids — Dec 13–14 — ZHR ~120–150; 2025 has a thin crescent, so excellent. (American Meteor Society)
- Ursids — Dec 22 — ZHR ~10 (can reach ~25).
Other established showers worth noting (typical ZHR in parentheses):
γ-Ursae Minorids (3), α-Centaurids (6), π-Puppids (Var), ι-Aquariids (6), η-Lyrids (3), June Boötids (Var), July Pegasids (3), July γ-Draconids (3), κ-Cygnids (3), Aurigids (6), ε-Geminids (3), Daytime Sextantids (radio), October Camelopardalids (3), ε-Geminids (10), Leonis Minorids (2), Andromedids (Var), Comae Berenicids (3). See the full working list for activity windows and radiants.
Authoritative, complete reference
- International Meteor Organization, “2025 Meteor Shower Calendar.” Includes the full Working List with activity ranges, peak dates (UTC), radiants, and ZHR for all established visual showers, plus the daytime radio list.