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Meteor showers

Shooting stars are grains of dust that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. Every year, at the same time, Earth crosses the dust trails of certain comets. That is when especially many fall. Here are the 10 main showers, sorted by their next peak.

Orionids

Next peak: 21 October 2026
Active: 2 October 2026 to 7 November 2026
Shooting stars per hour: up to 20 under ideal conditions, about 10 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Orion
Speed: 66 km/s
Origin: Comet Halley

For the second time in the year, Earth crosses the dust trail of Comet Halley. Fast meteors, often leaving a glowing trail.

Taurids

Next peak: 12 November 2026
Active: 10 September 2026 to 10 December 2026
Shooting stars per hour: up to 5 under ideal conditions, about 3 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Taurus
Speed: 29 km/s
Origin: Comet Encke

Few meteors, but slow and sometimes very bright ones – the Taurids are known for their fireballs.

Leonids

Next peak: 17 November 2026
Active: 6 November 2026 to 30 November 2026
Shooting stars per hour: up to 15 under ideal conditions, about 8 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Leo
Speed: 71 km/s
Origin: Comet Tempel-Tuttle

The fastest shooting stars. About every 33 years there are “meteor storms”: in 1833 and 1966 up to tens of thousands fell per hour!

Geminids

Next peak: 14 December 2026
Active: 4 December 2026 to 20 December 2026
Shooting stars per hour: up to 150 under ideal conditions, about 87 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Gemini
Speed: 35 km/s
Origin: Asteroid (3200) Phaethon

The strongest shower of the year – and one of the few that come from an asteroid. Easy to see from as early as about 9 pm, so wrap up warm!

Ursids

Next peak: 22 December 2026
Active: 17 December 2026 to 26 December 2026
Shooting stars per hour: up to 10 under ideal conditions, about 2 above Switzerland
Moonlight: bright Moon, only the brightest can be seen
Appear to come from: Ursa Minor
Speed: 33 km/s
Origin: Comet Tuttle

The “Christmas shower”. The radiant near the Pole Star never sets – you can watch all night long.

Quadrantids

Next peak: 4 January 2027
Active: 29 December 2026 to 13 January 2027
Shooting stars per hour: up to 80 under ideal conditions, about 41 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Boötes
Speed: 41 km/s
Origin: Asteroid 2003 EH1 (probably an extinct comet)

Named after a constellation that no longer exists: the “Mural Quadrant”. The peak is very short – only a few hours.

Lyrids

Next peak: 23 April 2027
Active: 15 April 2027 to 1 May 2027
Shooting stars per hour: up to 18 under ideal conditions, about 4 above Switzerland
Moonlight: bright Moon, only the brightest can be seen
Appear to come from: Lyra
Speed: 49 km/s
Origin: Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1)

One of the oldest known meteor showers: Chinese astronomers described it more than 2,600 years ago.

Eta Aquariids

Next peak: 6 May 2027
Active: 19 April 2027 to 28 May 2027
Shooting stars per hour: up to 50 under ideal conditions, about 7 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Aquarius
Speed: 66 km/s
Origin: Comet Halley

Dust from Comet Halley. Unfortunately hard to see from Switzerland: the radiant only rises shortly before dawn.

Perseids

Next peak: 13 August 2027
Active: 18 July 2027 to 25 August 2027
Shooting stars per hour: up to 100 under ideal conditions, about 55 above Switzerland
Moonlight: the Moon hardly interferes
Appear to come from: Perseus
Speed: 59 km/s
Origin: Comet Swift-Tuttle

The most popular shower: warm summer nights and lots of bright shooting stars. Popularly known as the “Tears of St Lawrence”, because the peak falls around St Lawrence's Day (10 August).

Draconids

Next peak: 9 October 2027
Active: 7 October 2027 to 11 October 2027
Shooting stars per hour: up to 10 under ideal conditions, about 3 above Switzerland
Moonlight: bright Moon, only the brightest can be seen
Appear to come from: Draco
Speed: 20 km/s
Origin: Comet Giacobini-Zinner

Very slow shooting stars, best in the early evening. Usually quiet, but good for a surprise: in 1933 and 1946 thousands fell per hour.

Dates and moonlight calculated for Zurich, as of 14 October 2026. The figure “above Switzerland” is an estimate for a dark place outside the city.