Meteor Showers in 2024: A Complete Stargazing Guide

The Quadrantids typically have a short maximum of around 6 hours, so timing can be important. Fortunately, this year the maximum benefits observers in the western hemisphere, with the shower’s maximum predicted for 4 A.M. ET (1 A.M. PT) on the morning of the 4^th.

More specifically, observers on the West Coast will have the best chance of seeing some shooting stars. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, the maximum occurs at 1 A.M., while the skies are still truly dark. Secondly, the last quarter Moon will still be low over the eastern horizon, and its light won’t drown out the fainter meteors.

Regardless of your location, 1 A.M. is most likely the best time to step outside. The radiant will be rising over the northeast, but looking toward the north and east will probably be the most rewarding.

With no major showers occurring in February and March, these are pretty uneventful months for meteor observers. However, if you want to try your luck, there are a couple that might be worth your time.

The most active shower in February is the Alpha Centaurids. With a zenith hourly rate of just 6 meteors, it’s considered a minor shower, and with its radiant in the southern celestial hemisphere, you probably won’t see very many. However, the Moon is new at maximum, with your best bet being to go outside at around two hours before dawn. Keep your eyes peeled toward the southeast and southwest.

March’s meteor shower is very similar to February’s. The Gamma Normids are also a minor shower with a zenith hourly rate of just six. Its radiant is also located in the southern hemisphere, but with the Moon a waxing crescent at maximum, it will set long before the shower reaches its peak.

Again, like the Alpha Centaurids of February, step outside two to three hours before sunrise and look toward the southeast and southwest. The meteors are reasonably bright and of medium speed, giving you a decent chance of spotting a shooting star or two.

After the Quadrantids, the Lyrids are the next major shower to occur, but unfortunately, you’ll find the full Moon may put a dampener on these celestial fireworks. This year, the shower reaches its maximum in the early hours of the 22^nd, with the radiant rising in the northeast at that time.

This would normally provide a great opportunity to spot some shooting stars, but once again, your chances will depend on which side of North America you reside. This time, West Coast observers are at a disadvantage, as the almost full Moon will be high over the southern horizon at the shower’s maximum. This will considerably brighten the sky and drown out the fainter shooting stars.

Those on the east coast will find it hanging lower over the southwestern horizon at maximum, thereby having less of an effect on the surrounding sky. Either way, try to keep your eyes open toward the north and east shortly after midnight, with meteors potentially appearing higher in the sky closer to dawn.

Another major shower, the Eta Aquariids have a zenith hourly rate of 50, and with the Moon a waning crescent, the shower won’t be adversely affected by its light. However, the Eta Aquariids have a few factors working against them.

For starters, the radiant is in Aquarius, an autumnal constellation that won’t rise until shortly before dawn. While this is true every year, 2024 brings an additional problem, as the shower is predicted to reach its maximum during daylight hours.

Given the situation, you can choose to either step outside a few hours before dawn on either the 5^th or the 6^th . At that time, the radiant will be low over the eastern horizon, so look towards the northeast and southeast. These meteors are bright but fast, so be vigilant!

June is another month that’s relatively light in terms of meteor showers - but with the days at their longest, this is not necessarily a huge loss. However, if you want to try your luck, look out for the June Boötids, which is the shower most likely to produce a few shooting stars this month.

These meteors are slow and bright, but with a variable zenith hourly rate, you may see some - or you may see none. This year, the Moon is at last quarter when the shower peaks on June 27^th, and with both the Moon rising and the radiant setting in the early hours of the morning, your best bet is probably to go outside at around midnight and keep your eyes looking high towards the west and north.

Unfortunately, July will most likely be something of a washout for meteor watchers. With a zenith hourly rate of 25, the Southern Delta Aquariids is the most active shower this month, but you’ll certainly need to be outside during the early hours to catch sight of any shooting stars.

For starters, Aquarius is an autumnal constellation and therefore won’t become prominent until after midnight. However, if you’re outside at around 3 A.M., you’ll find it reasonably high over the southern horizon. The Moon will be a waning crescent when the shower is at maximum and therefore won’t rise until shortly before dawn.

This should give you a couple of hours, which is just as well, as these shooting stars are known to be on the fainter side.

Arguably the most famous meteor shower of them all, the Perseids aren’t at their best this year - but they’re not at their worst either! Two things count against them; firstly the maximum is predicted for daylight hours on the 12^th. Secondly, with the Moon at first quarter, evening observers may find the sky a little too bright to spot every shooting star that streaks across the sky.

If you’re outside after midnight you should stand a decent chance, but for the best view, you’ll want to look toward the northeast and southeast at around 4 A.M. By that time, the radiant will be relatively high in the east and the sky will yet to brighten with the dawn.

Better yet, you’ll also be able to see a conjunction of Mars and Jupiter near the Hyades star cluster. Although the two planets aren’t quite at their closest (that happens on the 14^th, with just a third of a degree between them) you’ll find the one-degree separation to be a pleasing sight regardless!

September, like July, brings another challenging shower. The zenith hourly rate of the September Epsilon Perseids is only five, and they’re known to be fast and only of medium brightness. The good news is that the Moon is a waxing crescent, and the shower is predicted to peak during hours of darkness for North America.

With this in mind, observers on the West Coast should head outside at around 11 P.M. on the 8^th, while those on the east should be outside at around 2 A.M. on the 9^th. East Coast observers will have the advantage, as the radiant will be higher in the sky. As the shower’s name implies, the radiant lies very close to Epsilon Persei, which will be rising in the northeast, so looking toward the east and north-northeast will likely give you your best chance.

The Orionids are one of the better-known meteor showers, perhaps because they have a famous parent object: Halley’s Comet. Every 76 years, the comet returns to the inner solar system and renews the shower with fresh debris and dust. However, you’ll have to wait until 2061 - when the comet next returns - to see if that makes a difference to the shower itself.

Unfortunately, although this shower has a tendency to produce bright meteors, the Moon is a waning gibbous this year and will be in Taurus, close to the border with Orion and the radiant itself. You could try your luck in the mid to late evening of the 20^th (while both the Moon and radiant are still below the horizon), or else you can take your chances with both the Moon and the radiant rising in the early hours.

The Leonids are another famous shower, but you shouldn’t have high hopes for them this year. With the Moon turning full on the 15^th, you’ll find it’s still 97% illuminated and high over the southern horizon at around 1 A.M. That’s also when the Leonids’ radiant will be rising in the east.

With the Moon so close to full and with its northerly celestial latitude in Taurus, there’s simply no escaping it this year. However, the Leonids are bright, so there’s still a fighting chance of spotting a shooting star or two. Your best bet might be around 4 A.M. or 5 A.M. when the radiant is rising, and the Moon is setting.

Ordinarily, the Geminids are a highlight of any astronomical year, but in 2024 it’s cursed with the Moon turning full just a few days after the shower’s maximum. It’s a similar situation to the Leonids; just as the shower’s radiant is rising in the east (at around 8 P.M.), the almost full Moon will already be high over the horizon in Taurus.

Fortunately, the Geminids are bright, don’t move too quickly, and with a zenith hourly rate of 150, are prolific, to say the least. You should therefore still be able to spot a few on the evening of the 13^th. Alternatively, rise and step outside at about three hours before dawn on the 14^th, when the Moon is low in the west, and its light will not be so much of a hindrance.