RADIANT · ORIONPast
Orionids
October 21–22, 2026
Halley’s comet leaves the trail; Earth supplies the annual light show. Look after midnight, with a wide view of the sky.
Activity: Oct 2 – Nov 7, 2026
PARANORMAL FORUMS · EARTH & SKY WATCH
A little closer
to the extraordinary.
Meteor trails. Moving ground. A restless Sun.
Your window into the world above us—and beneath our feet.
NEXT PEAK NIGHTNorthern TauridsNovember 11–12, 2026
EARTH · PAST 24 HOURSChecking activity…Magnitude 2.5+ · worldwide
TONIGHT’S MOONCalculating phase…Approximate illumination
THE SKY ABOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Tonight near you
A real observing plan, calculated for your location.
Start with your ZIP codeCity, time zone and viewing times will appear here.
ZIP and sky calculations use data hosted on this site. Your saved location stays in this browser.
YOUR OBSERVING WINDOW
MOONLIGHT AT NIGHT’S MIDPOINT
Sunset—
Astronomical dusk—
Astronomical dawn—
Sunrise—
Moonrise—
Moonset—
Your planet guide
Directions and altitude are for the best viewing time shown on each card.
How these viewing windows are calculated
Planet windows combine the selected location, date and time zone with topocentric astronomical positions. A suggested window requires the planet to be at least 10° above the horizon and the Sun at least 6° below it. Best times are sampled at 10-minute intervals. Astronomical dusk and dawn use a solar altitude of −18°. Times assume a clear, unobstructed horizon at sea level; clouds, terrain, light pollution and your equipment affect the actual view. Uranus and Neptune are marked for optical equipment.
A ZIP code represents an approximate area, not your street address. Time-zone boundaries are also approximate; the resolved IANA time zone is displayed above. Moonrise and moonset are events in the observing period from local noon to the following local noon. A missing event can be normal, especially at high latitudes.
There’s a whole sky out there.
Find which planets clear your horizon, when darkness arrives, and whether the Moon will share the view. Enter your ZIP code to begin.
Calculations: Astronomy Engine · ZIP locations: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0 · Time-zone lookup: PhotoStructure, CC0. Location data reviewed October 21, 2026.
THE SKY’S OWN FIREWORKS
Meteor shower watch
Choose a night. Find some darkness. Give the sky a little time.
RADIANT · TAURUSActive now
Southern Taurids
November 4–5, 2026
A patient observer’s shower. Activity is spread over weeks, with the chance of an especially bright fireball.
Activity: Sep 20 – Nov 20, 2026
RADIANT · TAURUSActive now
Northern Taurids
November 11–12, 2026
A second Taurid stream overlaps its southern cousin. Give this slower show time rather than expecting a constant flurry.
Activity: Oct 20 – Dec 10, 2026
RADIANT · LEOActive now
Leonids
November 16–17, 2026
Fast meteors from comet Tempel–Tuttle. Best approached as a regular shower; a famous name does not guarantee a meteor storm.
Activity: Nov 6 – Nov 30, 2026
RADIANT · GEMINIUpcoming
Geminids
December 13–14, 2026
An excellent winter target. Activity can build before midnight, making this a good shower for a longer evening outside.
Activity: Dec 4 – Dec 17, 2026
RADIANT · URSA MINORUpcoming
Ursids
December 21–22, 2026
A quieter northern-sky finale to the year. Bundle up, settle in, and keep expectations modest.
Activity: Dec 17 – Dec 26, 2026
RADIANT · BOÖTESUpcoming
Quadrantids
January 3–4, 2027
A brief maximum makes timing important. Northern observers have the advantage; consult the calendar for the predicted peak time.
Activity: Dec 28 – Jan 12, 2027
RADIANT · LYRAUpcoming
Lyrids
April 21–22, 2027
A springtime watch best attempted late at night. Moonlight can wash out the fainter streaks.
Activity: Apr 14 – Apr 30, 2027
RADIANT · AQUARIUSUpcoming
Eta Aquariids
May 5–6, 2027
Another encounter with Halley’s debris. Southern and tropical observers tend to get the better view before dawn.
Activity: Apr 19 – May 28, 2027
RADIANT · AQUARIUSUpcoming
Southern Delta Aquariids
July 30–31, 2027
A broad summer observing window, especially favorable from southern latitudes. Dark skies help with these fainter meteors.
Activity: Jul 12 – Aug 23, 2027
RADIANT · CAPRICORNUSUpcoming
Alpha Capricornids
July 30–31, 2027
Usually sparse, occasionally spectacular. Bright fireballs are the attraction rather than high hourly counts.
Activity: Jul 3 – Aug 15, 2027
RADIANT · PERSEUSUpcoming
Perseids
August 12–13, 2027
A familiar northern-summer favorite from comet Swift–Tuttle. Find a dark horizon and let your eyes adjust.
Activity: Jul 17 – Aug 24, 2027
No listed showers are active on this date. Try “Coming up” or the full calendar.
Peak nights: American Meteor Society ↗ · Calendar reviewed October 21, 2026. Dates are viewing windows, not a guarantee of visibility. Rates depend on location, darkness, cloud and moonlight.
A PLANET THAT NEVER STANDS STILL
Earth monitor
Recent earthquakes, straight from the USGS.
GLOBAL SEISMIC ACTIVITYM2.5+ · last 24 hours
Earthquake · size reflects magnitudeTap a point for USGS details
Loading observations…
Loading recent earthquakes…
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program ↗ · Map: Natural Earth (public domain). Events may be revised. This dashboard is for observation, not emergency alerts.
AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN
Moon & solar watch
OUR NIGHTLY COMPANION
Moon phase
Calculating illumination…
Approximate synodic-cycle calculation; not a moonrise or visibility forecast.—Kp index
Scale 0–9
Scale 0–9
Checking the Sun’s influence…
Kp describes global geomagnetic activity. A higher reading can bring aurora farther from the poles; local visibility also depends on darkness, cloud and latitude.
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center ↗
Connecting…
TAKE IT OUTSIDE. BRING IT BACK HERE.
Good observations make great conversations.
Seen a fireball? Felt a tremor? Share the time, approximate location and what you noticed. The details help everyone make sense of an extraordinary moment.
Explore skywatching discussions Earthquake discussions- Let your eyes adjust. Give them 20–30 minutes away from bright lights.
- Take the wide view. Meteors can cross any part of the sky. No telescope required.
- Note the essentials. Time, direction, duration and location beat a blurry guess.