Geminids 2026: peak date, best time and where to look
The Geminids peak on December 14, 2026 (around 14:00 UTC). Here is when to watch, where to look and how the Moon affects the show.
| Peak | December 14, 2026 (around 14:00 UTC) |
|---|---|
| Best night | the night of December 13–14 and 14–15 |
| Active | December 4 – 20 |
| Rate (ideal dark sky) | about 150 per hour (ZHR) |
| Parent body | asteroid 3200 Phaethon |
| Speed | 35 km/s — fairly slow, bright meteors that are easy to spot |
| Radiant | RA 7.5h, Dec +33° |
Moonlight in 2026
Excellent conditions in 2026: a thin crescent Moon (about 30% lit) sets in the evening, leaving the rest of the night dark.
Where and when to look
Best from the Northern Hemisphere, where the radiant is up almost all night. Southern observers see fewer meteors, mainly after midnight.
Meteors appear all over the sky, streaking away from the radiant. You will see the most when the radiant is high and the sky is dark, so look about 40–60° away from the radiant, wherever the sky is darkest. Give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adapt and avoid looking at a bright phone screen.
Highest altitude of the radiant
| Location | Radiant's highest altitude |
|---|---|
| London / New York / Tokyo (≈40–51°N) | 78° |
| Los Angeles / Cairo (≈30–34°N) | 89° |
| Singapore (1°N) | 58° |
| Sydney / Cape Town (≈34°S) | 23° |
Why 2026 is special
The Geminids are the strongest annual shower, and in 2026 the Moon is only a thin crescent that sets early in the evening. Under a dark sky you may see a meteor every minute or so near the peak.
See the Geminids radiant over your own horizon on the peak night.
Simulate the meteor shower in 3D →