Shooting Stars in November 2026
Five notable meteor showers are expected to peak in November 2026. 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 4-5: Southern Taurids
- November 11-12: Northern Taurids
- November 17-18: Leonids
- November 21-22: Alpha Monocerotids
- November 27-28: November Orionids
- How to watch a meteor shower tonight?
- November Shooting Stars: Conclusion
November 4-5: Southern Taurids
- Meteors per hour: 5-10
- Moon illumination: 18%
- Active: September 20 - November 20
- Early peak: October 12–13
- Radiant location: constellation Taurus
- Visible from: both hemispheres
- Description: 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. Read our dedicated article on the Taurid meteor showers to learn how to get the most out of observing these meteors.
Visibility forecast
The Southern Taurids’ main peak in 2026 is forecast for around November 5, when a waning crescent Moon will create good viewing conditions. Observers should also watch for an earlier peak near October 13, with little moonlight interference — an event that some astronomers believe may be more active than in an average year.
November 11-12: Northern Taurids
- Meteors per hour: 5
- Moon illumination: 7%
- Active: October 20 - December 10
- Radiant location: constellation Taurus
- Visible from: both hemispheres
- Description: 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 the prevailing theory, this complex formed when a large parent body fragmented about 20,000 years ago, leaving comet Encke, several asteroids, and the Taurid meteor streams as its remnants.
Visibility forecast
The Northern Taurids are forecast to reach their peak around November 12, 2026, under a waxing crescent Moon that will leave viewing conditions largely unaffected. The shower is also expected to display heightened activity for roughly ten days 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 illumination: 53%
- Active: November 6-30
- Radiant location: constellation Leo
- Visible from: both hemispheres
- Description: The Leonids, associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle, are famous for producing breathtaking meteor storms. Such storms occur about every 33 years. For instance, in 1966, observers in North America could see thousands of meteors per hour. The most recent major Leonid outbursts occurred in 1999–2002, with activity peaking around 2001. The Leonid meteors are among the fastest, reaching a speed of 71 kilometers (44 miles) per second. Learn more about the Leonid meteor shower and how to watch it in our dedicated article.
Visibility forecast
The Leonid meteor shower in 2026 is forecast to peak on November 17 at 23:45 GMT. Since the maximum coincides with a First Quarter Moon, lunar glare will reduce the visibility of weaker meteors early in the night. Fortunately, the Moon sets around 11 p.m. local time, leaving darker skies for the remainder of the night.
November 21-22: Alpha Monocerotids
- Meteors per hour: variable
- Moon illumination: 88%
- Active: November 15-25
- Radiant location: constellation Monoceros
- Visible from: both hemispheres
- Description: 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 storm reached the ZHR of 400 meteors per hour.
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 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 illumination: 83%
- Active: November 13 - December 6
- Radiant location: constellation Orion
- Visible from: both hemispheres
- Description: The November Orionids are quite a weak meteor stream with a rate of only 3 meteors per hour. Some sources claim that the origin of this meteor shower is unknown, as the parent body may have disintegrated long ago. Other studies suggest that it came from a large comet called C/1917 F1 (Mellish).
Visibility forecast
In 2026, the November Orionids will be a difficult target for observers. The shower’s peak on November 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 meteors by watching toward the early morning, when Orion climbs higher in the sky and the Moon sinks closer to the horizon.
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?
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.
November Shooting Stars: Conclusion
In November 2026, the Leonids offer the best chance to see meteors, with darker skies later in the night and rates of up to 15–20 meteors per hour. The Southern and Northern Taurids are also worth watching earlier in the month, 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!
