Meteor Shower Calendar: June - September 2024
Ten meteor showers are coming from June Solstice to September Equinox, including the renowned Perseids and prolific Southern Delta-Aquariids. Use this calendar to remember which meteor showers peak each month.
Contents
- Meteor showers in June
- Meteor showers in July
- Meteor showers in August
- Meteor showers in September
- Meteor showers June-September 2024: key points
Getting ready to observe “shooting stars”? Check our meteor shower guide for useful tips on seeing and photographing meteors!
Meteor showers in June
June 27: June Bootids
- Designation: 170 JBO
- ZHR: variable
- Moon illumination: 67%
- Active: June 22 - July 2
- Constellation: Bootes
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The June Bootids originate from a short-period comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke. This meteor shower is unpredictable. It showed unusual activity in 1998 (50-100 meteors per hour) and 2004 (20-50 meteors per hour). Another outburst was expected in 2010, but the shower produced less than ten meteors per hour. In most years, the June Bootids are rather weak and produce about 1-2 meteors per hour.
June Bootids visibility forecast
In 2024, there are no special predictions about the June Bootids. They reach their maximum on June 27 – soon after the Full Moon, so it’s best to observe the meteors during the three-hour gap between sunset and moonrise. No increased activity is forecast, so don't expect more than 1-2 meteors per hour.
Meteor showers in July
July 10: July Pegasids
- Designation: 175 JPE
- ZHR: 5
- Moon illumination: 22%
- Active: July 4-14
- Constellation: Pegasus
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The July Pegasids is a weak meteor shower with a radiant located near the star Markab (Alpha Pegasi). The parent body of this meteor shower is probably the comet C/1979 Y1 (Bradfield).
July Pegasids visibility forecast
In 2024, the July Pegasids reach their peak about a week after a New Moon, so the moonlight won’t be too bright. The meteor shower is best observed from the Northern Hemisphere by the night's second half, just after the moonset, when the radiant rises the highest in the sky.
July 28: Piscis Austrinids
- Designation: 183 PAU
- ZHR: 5
- Moon illumination: 46%
- Active: July 15 - August 10
- Constellation: Piscis Austrinus
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: The Piscis Austrinids is a minor meteor shower with an unknown parent body. Its radiant is near the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, Fomalhaut, which very conveniently rises high in the southern sky during the shower’s peak.
Piscis Austrinids visibility forecast
In 2024, the Piscis Austrinids peak on July 28. The observing conditions are more favorable in the Southern Hemisphere, where the half-lit Moon will disappear over the horizon by the time the radiant climbs the highest. In the Northern Hemisphere, the radiant will appear low above the horizon for a short period, simultaneously with the Moon.
July 28: July γ-Draconids
- Designation: 184 GDR
- ZHR: 5
- Moon illumination: 46%
- Active: July 25-31
- Constellation: Draco
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The July Gamma Draconids (July γ-Draconids) is a minor meteor shower with an unknown parent body. It hasn’t shown any extra activity since 2017, but produced an outburst in 2016 (30-40 meteors per hour).
July γ-Draconids visibility forecast
In 2024, the maximum activity of the July γ-Draconids is expected on July 28, at around 01:00 GMT. For the Northern Hemisphere observers, the radiant will be high all night, but the Moon will rise after midnight and light up the sky for most of the night. In the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant will be very close to the horizon.
July 31: Southern δ-Aquariids
- Designation: 005 SDA
- ZHR: 25
- Moon illumination: 16%
- Active: July 12 - August 23
- Constellation: Aquarius
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: The Southern Delta Aquariids (δ-Aquariids) are one of the most active meteor showers in the southern sky. Observers reported outbursts in 1977 and 2003 (about 40 meteors per hour). The exact origin of the stream is uncertain, but the possible parent body is comet 96P/Machholz.
Southern δ-Aquariids visibility forecast
This year, the Southern Delta Aquariids will reach their peak on July 31. Their meteors are dim, and the Moon can hinder the view. Fortunately, the peak occurs a few days before the New Moon, so the lunar crescent will be thin and won’t spoil the show. For most of the northern latitudes, the radiant will be low in the sky. The Southern Hemisphere will get better conditions: the radiant will be in the sky all night and will get the highest by midnight. The Moon won’t show up in the sky until the early morning, so the night sky will be perfectly dark.
July 31: α-Capricornids
- Designation: 001 CAP
- ZHR: 5
- Moon illumination: 16%
- Active: July 3 - August 15
- Constellation: Capricornus
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: The Alpha Capricornids’ (α-Capricornids) parent body is comet 169P/NEAT. This meteor shower is not prolific, but produces slow-moving, bright meteors – sometimes, it even shows some fireballs.
α-Capricornids visibility forecast
In 2024, the shower will peak on July 31. In the Northern Hemisphere, the radiant will hang close to the horizon. In the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant will be in the sky from dusk till dawn, and reach the highest point by midnight. The Moon will stay below the horizon until sunrise and won’t disturb the view.
Meteor showers in August
August 12: Perseids
- Designation: 007 PER
- ZHR: 100
- Moon illumination: 53%
- Active: July 17 - August 24
- Constellation: Perseus
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The Perseids originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. They are so bright and abundant that they’ve become one of the most popular meteor showers. Every year this meteor shower is on the list of the most spectacular and anticipated astronomical events.
Perseids visibility forecast
The year 2024 brings us good conditions to observe the Perseids. The peak is expected on August 12 and will coincide with the First Quarter Moon. Thankfully, the half-lit lunar disk will disappear over the horizon at around midnight, so the second half of the night will be dark. It’s best to observe the shower from the mid-northern latitudes: from there, the radiant will climb the highest by 22:30 local time. Unfortunately, the shower can’t be properly observed from most of the Southern Hemisphere and latitudes north of about 60°N. Find more tips on how to observe the Perseids in our dedicated article.
August 17: κ-Cygnids
- Designation: 012 KCG
- ZHR: 3
- Moon illumination: 89%
- Active: August 3-28
- Constellation: Cygnus
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The Kappa Cygnids (κ-Cygnids) is an episodic meteor shower with an unknown parent body. It is known for occasional bright fireballs. Periodic outbursts happen every 6-7 years (the latest ones were observed in 2020 and 2021).
κ-Cygnids visibility forecast
In 2024, the peak of the Kappa Cygnids will be on August 17, which is close to the Full Moon. In the Northern Hemisphere, the radiant is in the sky all night, as well as the bright lunar disk. In the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant will be either low above the horizon or below it.
August 31: Aurigids
- Designation: 206 AUR
- ZHR: 6
- Moon illumination: 6%
- Active: August 28 - September 5
- Constellation: Auriga
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The Aurigids is a minor meteor shower. The parent body of the Aurigids is comet Kiess (C/1911 N1). The most recent outbursts of the Aurigids were registered in 2007 and 2019: the shower produced 30-50 meteors per hour.
Aurigids visibility forecast
This year, the Aurigids will reach their peak on August 31, at about 11:00 GMT. The Aurigids favor the Northern Hemisphere, where their radiant is high above the horizon. The thin lunar crescent will stay below the horizon for most of the night. In the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant is visible 1-2 hours after sunset, near the skyline.
Meteor showers in September
September 9: September ε-Perseids
- Designation: 208 SPE
- ZHR: 5
- Moon illumination: 30%
- Active: September 5-21
- Constellation: Perseus
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The September Epsilon Perseids (ε-Perseids) are not to be confused with the August Perseids. They have different parent bodies: the Perseids come from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, while ε-Perseids originate from an unknown long-period comet. Also, the ε-Perseids are much weaker.
September ε-Perseids visibility forecast
In 2024, the Epsilon Perseids reach their peak on September 9, at 06:00 GMT, which is close to the First Quarter Moon. In the Northern Hemisphere, the radiant will be on view all night starting at 22:00 local time. It’s best to start observations at around midnight, after the moonset. Observers from the Southern Hemisphere have fewer chances to see the meteors as the radiant doesn’t rise high above the horizon and spends much less time in the sky.
Meteor showers June-September 2024: key points
The period from June to September is marked by several notable meteor showers. Pay special attention to the Perseids and the Southern δ-Aquariids, the most abundant of them all. Check if you are ready to watch shooting stars by taking our quiz! Also, see our calendar of the best meteor showers 2024.
We wish you clear skies and happy observations!
