[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CULTURE]

2 clusters · 12 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Alpha Aurigids meteor shower

Overview

The Alpha Aurigids meteor shower is active from late August through September 5, 2026. This micrometeor shower is caused by Earth passing through the debris trail of Comet C/1911 N1 (Kiess), a long-period comet from the Oort Cloud.

The meteors are noted for their high speed of approximately 66 km/s and may leave short-lived light trails. The radiant point for the shower is located in the constellation Auriga.

Activity is expected to peak on the night of August 31 to September 1. During this maximum, observers may see up to 10 meteors per hour, particularly during the second half of the night. However, the 2026 Astronomical Almanac published by the Polish Astronomical Society notes that observation conditions may be hindered by a bright Moon following a full moon phase.

In Ecuador, the Quito Astronomical Observatory suggests that the best viewing window occurs between 04:00 and 05:00 ECT. Experts recommend observing in areas with low light pollution to mitigate the effects of the lunar cycle, which may obscure fainter meteors.

Entities

Comet C/1911 N1 (Kiess) · Polish Astronomical Society · Quito Astronomical Observatory · Auriga · Polish Astronomical Society

Timeline

  1. 12 days ago

    [CULTURE] 8 sources
    Aurigid meteor shower to peak in late August and early September

    The Aurigid meteor shower will peak between August 31 and September 1, 2026, with up to 10 meteors per hour visible. High speeds and light trails are expected, though moonlight may hinder visibility.

  2. 15 days ago

    [CULTURE] 4 sources
    Alpha Aurigids meteor shower to peak late August

    The Alpha Aurigids meteor shower is set to peak between August 31 and September 1, 2026, originating from the debris of the long-period Comet C/1911 N1 (Kiess).

Sources

astronet.pl · azedu.az · bsu.edu.az · elcomercio.com · elle.com.au · fakt.pl · greenme.it · natemat.pl · naukawpolsce.pap.pl · notimercio.ec · techrights.org · wiadomosci.wp.pl

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history