Meteor Showers in November 2026: Taurids, Leonids and More
Five notable meteor showers are expected to peak in November 2026. Two highlights are the slow, bright Southern Taurids peaking around November 4–5 and fast Leonids around November 17–18. The Taurids benefit from relatively little moonlight, while the Leonids are worth watching once the Moon has set. Use the Sky Tonight app to determine the position of any meteor shower’s radiant in your sky and find the best time for observation in your location. Read on to learn everything about November’s meteor showers!
Contents
- November Meteor Showers 2026: Key Facts
- Best November Meteor Showers 2026
- Minor November Meteor Showers 2026
- How to Watch a Meteor Shower Tonight Near Me?
- What Can You See in the Night Sky While Waiting for Shooting Stars This Month?
- November Shooting Stars: Conclusion
November Meteor Showers 2026: Key Facts
Five notable meteor showers peak in November 2026. Hourly rates below are zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) estimates for ideal conditions, with a dark, clear sky and the radiant directly overhead. Actual counts are usually lower and depend on radiant altitude, moonlight, light pollution, and weather.
- Southern Taurids — peak around November 5, with 5–10 meteors per hour and relatively little moonlight interference. They are known for slow, bright meteors and occasional fireballs.
- Northern Taurids — peak around November 12, with about 5 meteors per hour. The thin waxing crescent Moon leaves favorable conditions for watching this slow-moving shower.
- Leonids — peak around November 17–18, with about 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Plan observations after local moonset for darker skies and better chances of spotting faint meteors.
- Two smaller showers also peak later in the month: the Alpha Monocerotids on November 22 and the November Orionids on November 28. Bright moonlight will make both difficult to observe.
Best November Meteor Showers 2026
The Southern Taurids, Northern Taurids, and Leonids are November’s main meteor-watching highlights.
November 4–5: Southern Taurids
- Meteors per hour: 5–10
- Moon phase: waning crescent
- Active: September 20–November 20
- Early peak: October 12–13
- Radiant location: constellation Taurus
- Best visible from: both hemispheres
This meteor shower is one of the two branches of the large Taurid meteor stream, which is associated with comet 2P/Encke. Taurid meteors are typically slow-moving, yet occasionally incredibly bright. This makes them a great target for beginners in meteor photography. The shower is visible from both hemispheres, with somewhat better viewing conditions at northern latitudes.
Read our dedicated article on the Taurid meteor showers to learn how to get the most out of observing these meteors.
Southern Taurids visibility forecast
The Southern Taurids’ main peak in 2026 is expected around November 4–5, with little moonlight interference from a waning crescent Moon. The best time to watch is around local midnight, when the radiant is near its highest point in the sky.
The shower’s earlier peak on October 12–13 also occurred in favorable lunar conditions. The Taurids have a broad maximum, so don’t worry if you miss the exact peak dates — choose a nearby clear night and watch for meteors.
November 11–12: Northern Taurids
- Meteors per hour: 5
- Moon phase: thin waxing crescent Moon
- Active: October 20–December 10
- Radiant location: constellation Taurus
- Best visible from: both hemispheres
The Northern Taurids are also a part of the broad Taurid stream. Scientists believe that the meteor shower is linked to the asteroid 2004 TG10, which belongs to the so-called Encke complex (a family of objects associated with comet 2P/Encke). According to one hypothesis, the Taurid complex originated from the fragmentation of a much larger parent body thousands of years ago, leaving comet Encke, several asteroids, and the Taurid meteor streams as its remnants.
Northern Taurids visibility forecast
The Northern Taurids are forecast to reach their peak around November 11–12, under a waxing crescent Moon that will leave favorable viewing conditions. Activity can remain near maximum for roughly ten nights in early to mid-November, giving observers several chances to catch the show. With a New Moon on November 9 delivering dark skies, this period will be ideal for spotting the Northern Taurids’ notably slow and bright meteors.
November 17–18: Leonids
- Meteors per hour: 15
- Moon phase: waxing gibbous, around the First Quarter
- Active: November 6–30
- Radiant location: constellation Leo
- Best visible from: both hemispheres
The Leonids are among the fastest meteors, entering Earth’s atmosphere at about 71 kilometers (44 miles) per second. The meteor shower is associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle and is famous for producing breathtaking meteor storms. For instance, in 1966, observers in North America could see thousands of meteors per hour. The most recent major Leonid outbursts occurred in 1999, 2001, and 2002.
Mikhail Maslov’s long-term forecast suggests a possible major outburst in 2033, with a peak zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of 300–400 under ideal observing conditions. No significant outburst is forecast for 2026. Models suggest several weak encounters with older dust trails around November 17–19, but these are not expected to produce a meteor storm.
Learn more about the Leonid meteor shower and how to watch it in our dedicated article.
Leonids visibility forecast
According to the International Meteor Organization’s 2026 calendar, the Leonids’ regular annual maximum is expected at 23:45 UTC on November 17. The calendar also cites an alternative prediction by Mikhail Maslov, which places the maximum at 16:00 UTC on the same date.
The predicted maximum falls shortly after First Quarter Moon on November 17, so lunar glare may hide fainter meteors early in the night. The most useful observing window is generally after local moonset and before morning twilight, provided Leo is above the horizon. Moonset times vary by location, so check the time for your observing site in an astronomy app such as Sky Tonight.
Minor November Meteor Showers 2026
The Alpha Monocerotids and November Orionids round out the month’s meteor calendar. Both are challenging to observe in 2026, with bright moonlight making faint meteors difficult to spot.
November 21–22: Alpha Monocerotids
- Meteors per hour: variable
- Moon phase: waxing gibbous
- Active: November 15–25
- Radiant location: constellation Monoceros
- Best visible from: both hemispheres
The parent body of Alpha Monocerotids is unknown, but it’s thought to be a long-period comet with an orbital period of about 500 years. The Alpha Monocerotids have been known to show outbursts of activity with a zenithal hourly rate of more than 1,000 meteors. The last such outburst occurred in 1935, and in 1995 the meteor shower reached the ZHR of 400 meteors per hour.
Alpha Monocerotids visibility forecast
The Alpha Monocerotids are known for producing bright meteors, though their activity level can vary significantly from year to year. In 2026, the shower is expected to peak on November 21–22, just two days before the Full Moon. The strong moonlight will heavily brighten the sky, making observation difficult and limiting visibility mostly to the brightest meteors.
November 27–28: November Orionids
- Meteors per hour: 3
- Moon phase: waning gibbous
- Active: November 13–December 6
- Radiant location: constellation Orion
- Best visible from: both hemispheres
The November Orionids are quite a weak meteor stream with a rate of only 3 meteors per hour. Some studies suggest that the source of the shower is a large comet called C/1917 F1 (Mellish); however, this is not yet confirmed. The November Orionids are a separate, much weaker shower from the Orionids that peak in October.
November Orionids visibility forecast
In 2026, the November Orionids will be a difficult target for observers. The shower’s peak on November 27–28 comes shortly after the Full Moon, leaving the night sky brightened by strong moonlight. Under these conditions, only the brightest meteors are likely to stand out, especially given the shower’s low activity. Still, patient observers may catch a few of the brightest meteors, although strong moonlight will make this shower difficult to observe throughout much of the night.
Are you ready to see the meteors? Challenge yourself by taking the quiz on how to catch a shooting star. And if you're unsure of your skills, don't worry! We've got some quick tips for you.
How to Watch a Meteor Shower Tonight Near Me?
Prepare for the best meteor shower observations with the Sky Tonight astronomy app by following these steps:
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Determine the peak time. Use the app’s calendar feature to find the meteor shower you want to observe. The peak times are marked as dots. Tap on the event to get more details.
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Identify the radiant’s location. Check when the radiant (the point in the sky from which meteors appear to originate) is highest. Find the needed meteor shower in Search, tap on it, go to Events, and look at Visible Passes. The middle time indicates when the radiant is highest in your sky. View its position on the sky map at that moment.
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Consider the weather and the Moon phase. Use the Visible Tonight section (telescope icon) to check the Moon’s phase, weather forecast, and other stargazing details for your chosen date.
For more meteor-hunting tips, read our dedicated article or check our colorful infographic.
What Can You See in the Night Sky While Waiting for Shooting Stars This Month?
Use quiet intervals between meteors to become familiar with the constellations containing the meteor shower radiants: Taurus, Leo, Monoceros, and Orion. If you’re still outside before dawn in mid-November, you may also catch the November planetary alignment, featuring Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter.
On moonlit nights later in the month, turn your attention to the Moon itself and its encounters with the planets. This includes its close appearance near Jupiter and Mars on November 30. Set aside some time for telescope observations, then return to watching a wide area of sky for meteors.
November Shooting Stars: Conclusion
In November 2026, the Leonids on November 17–18 offer the best chance to see meteors, with darker skies later in the night and rates of up to 15 meteors per hour. The Southern Taurids on November 4–5 and the Northern Taurids on November 11–12 are also worth watching, especially for slow, bright fireballs. Other showers will be more challenging to observe due to strong moonlight. Easily locate any meteor shower’s radiant and check the Moon phase for specific dates using the stargazing app Sky Tonight.
Wishing you clear skies and joyful observations!
