Ready to witness a celestial spectacle? Let's dive into the meteor activity forecast for January 17th to 23rd, 2026! This week promises a fascinating dance of light in the night sky.
First things first: the moon. The new moon phase arrives on Sunday, January 18th. This means the moon will be nestled close to the sun and largely invisible, which is great news for meteor watching! As the week progresses, a waxing crescent moon will grace the evening sky, but it will set well before the prime meteor-viewing hours of the morning.
Now, let's talk numbers. For those gazing in the evening from mid-northern latitudes (around 45°N), expect to see roughly 3 meteors per hour. Tropical southern locations (around 25°S) should also anticipate about 3 meteors per hour during the evening. If you're an early riser, morning observers in mid-northern latitudes might spot around 12 meteors per hour, while those in tropical southern locations could see about 10 per hour.
But here's where it gets controversial... The actual meteor rates you observe will depend on several factors. Things like your personal vision, local weather conditions, how alert you are, and your experience all play a role. Remember, these hourly rates are estimates based on dark-sky sites away from city lights. If you're observing from an urban area, you'll likely see fewer meteors, as only the brightest ones will be visible.
The radiant positions – the points in the sky where meteors appear to originate – are most accurate for the night of Saturday/Sunday, January 3rd/4th. However, these positions don't shift much from day to day, so you can use these coordinates throughout the entire week. Most star atlases, available online, in bookstores, and at planetariums, include maps with celestial coordinate grids to help you pinpoint these positions.
I've also included sky charts that display the radiant positions for the evening, midnight, and morning hours. The center of each chart represents the sky directly overhead at the corresponding time. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating them. A planisphere or a planetarium app is also super helpful for showing the sky at any time of night, on any date.
And this is the part most people miss... The best time to view meteor activity from each radiant is when it's highest in the sky (culmination), either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your location. Radiants that rise after midnight won't reach their highest point until daylight, so it's best to observe them during the last few hours of the night.
Remember, meteors rarely appear directly at the radiant position. They shoot outward from it, so it's best to center your view so the radiant is near the edge of your field of vision, rather than the center. This lets you trace the meteor's path back to its radiant (if it's part of a shower) or see that it's a sporadic meteor. Also, meteor activity isn't visible from radiants that are far below the horizon.
The positions listed below are ordered from west to east by right ascension (celestial longitude). The first positions are located farther west and are accessible earlier in the night, while those further down the list rise later.
Here's what to expect in terms of meteor showers this week:
- Anthelion (ANT): This large radiant is centered at 08:40 (130) +16, located in central Cancer, just 2 degrees southwest of the star Asellus Australis (delta Cancri). The best viewing time is around 01:00 local standard time (LST), when it's on the meridian and highest in the southern sky. Expect rates of about 3 per hour from the northern hemisphere and 2 per hour south of the equator. These meteors move at 30 km/sec, making them medium-slow.
- Comae Berenicids (COM): This long-duration shower is active from December 4th through January 30th, with maximum activity on December 23rd. The radiant is located at 12:28 (187) +19, in southern Coma Berenices, just 1 degree west of the star 24 Comae Berenices. The best time to view these is around 05:00 LST. Current rates are expected to be less than 1 no matter your location. These meteors are swift, moving at 64 km/sec.
- gamma Ursae Minorids (GUM): Discovered by Dr. Peter Brown and associates, these meteors are active from January 10-22, with peak activity around January 18th. The radiant is at 15:16 (229) +68, in southern Ursa Minor, 4 degrees southwest of the star Pherkad (gamma Ursae Minoris). Best viewed during the last few hours before dawn. Expect hourly rates near 1 from the northern hemisphere. These meteors are not visible from the southern hemisphere. They travel at 31 km/sec, making them medium-slow.
What about those random meteors? Sporadic meteors are not associated with any known meteor shower. They are always there. Away from the peaks of major showers, sporadic meteors make up the bulk of what you'll see each night.
From the mid-northern hemisphere (45°N), you can expect to see approximately 8 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn from rural observing sites. Evening rates will be near 2 per hour. From tropical southern latitudes (25°S), morning rates will also be around 8 per hour, and 2 per hour during the evening.
Here's a handy table summarizing the active showers within reach of the visual observer:
| SHOWER | DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY | CELESTIAL POSITION | ENTRY VELOCITY (km/sec) | CULMINATION (LST) | HOURLY RATE (North-South) | CLASS |
| -------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------- | ----- |
| Anthelion (ANT) | - | 08:40 (130) +16 | 30 | 01:00 | 3 - 2 | II |
| Comae Berenicids (COM) | Dec 23 | 12:28 (187) +19 | 64 | 05:00 | <1 - <1 | II |
| gamma Ursid Minorids (GUM) | Jan 18 | 15:04 (226) +68 | 31 | 08:00 | 1 - <1 | IV |
Class Explanation:
- Class I: The strongest annual showers, with Zenith Hourly Rates (ZHR) of 10 or better.
- Class II: Reliable minor showers, with ZHRs usually between 2 and 10.
- Class III: Showers that don't provide annual activity. They are rarely active but have the potential for a major display.
- Class IV: Weak minor showers with ZHRs rarely exceeding 2. These are best studied by experienced observers.
So, what do you think? Are you planning to watch the skies this week? Which meteor shower are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
