Shooting stars calendar, tips and key dates for sky watching

Every year, the night sky over the Ardennes offers excellent opportunities to observe meteor showers. Thanks to low light pollution and wide open landscapes, this region is particularly well suited to stargazing. Below is the 2026 meteor shower calendar, with the main periods of activity and peak nights.

Meteor shower calendar for 2026

• Quadrantids – January 2026 : the Quadrantids are active from 28 December 2025 to 12 January 2026. Their peak occurs during the night of 2–3 January 2026. This meteor shower can be very intense, although moonlight may limit visibility this year.

• Lyrids – April 2026 : the Lyrids are visible from 14 to 30 April 2026, with a peak during the night of 21–22 April. Under dark skies, around twenty meteors per hour may be observed.

• Pi Puppids – April 2026 : the Pi Puppids reach their maximum around 23 April 2026. This lesser-known meteor shower is generally modest but can still offer pleasant surprises to patient observers

• Eta Aquariids – May 2026 : the Eta Aquariids are active from 19 April to 28 May 2026, with a peak during the night of 5–6 May. They are best observed in the early hours before dawn, when the sky is darkest.

• Perseids – August 2026 : the Perseids are the most famous meteor shower of the year. Active from 17 July to 24 August 2026, they reach their peak during the night of 12–13 August. They usually produce numerous bright and fast meteors, ideal for summer stargazing in the Ardennes.

• Orionids – October 2026 : the Orionids are visible from 2 October to 7 November 2026, with peak activity around the nights of 21–22 October. This meteor shower is associated with Halley’s Comet.

• Leonids – November 2026 : the Leonids are active from 6 to 30 November 2026, with a maximum around 17–18 November. They are known for their very fast meteors and occasional fireballs.

• Geminids – December 2026 : the Geminids are active from 4 to 20 December 2026, with a peak during the night of 13–14 December. They are among the most reliable and spectacular meteor showers of the year.

• Ursids – December 2026 : the Ursids are visible from 17 to 26 December 2026, reaching their maximum during the night of 22–23 December. Although less abundant, they are well worth observing during the long winter nights.

Observing shooting stars in the Ardennes

The Igl’houx and its terrace under a sunset

To enjoy meteor showers at their best, choose a location away from artificial lights. Rural areas and natural surroundings in the Ardennes provide excellent conditions for observing the night sky.

You can also choose the Igl’houx : it’s the ideal place to observe them.

No equipment is required, as meteors are best seen with the naked eye. Allow at least thirty minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness, dress warmly and settle in comfortably to enjoy the spectacle.

Where do shooting stars come from?

Despite their name, shooting stars are not actual stars. They are small fragments of rock or ice left behind by comets or asteroids. When these particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed (up to 70 km/s), friction causes them to burn up, creating the bright trails we call shooting stars.

Watching a meteor shower is witnessing a natural ballet born from millions of years of cosmic history. In 2026, there will be plenty of opportunities — so get ready for magical starry nights!

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