By Alexander Merz · Updated on · Details checked on 7 October 2026
February has never earned a reputation as a great month for meteor showers, yet the winter sky still rewards patient observers. The February meteor showers are a quiet bunch: thin streams, low radiants, or meteors that fall in broad daylight. Even so, around each peak of activity a glance toward the right radiant in the northern sky can be enough to catch a wish streaking overhead.
More in our overview: Shooting Stars.
⚡ The quick answer: There is no major shower in February 2026. The month’s streams — the Capricornids-Sagittariids, Chi Capricornids, February Leonids and Delta Leonids — all stay very faint (at most 5 meteors per hour) and several are active during the day. Your best nights are moonless and cloud-free: watch the radiants in Capricornus and Leo, plus the circumpolar northern sky toward Auriga. For the big showers, see our meteor shower calendar 2026.
Which meteor showers are active in February 2026?
February is a “lean” month for meteor showers visible from the Northern Hemisphere. There’s no marquee display like the Perseids or Geminids — just a handful of faint streams that take turns through the month. Because their peaks of activity are spread out from late January to late February, on almost any clear night you have a fair shot at spotting a single shooting star.
| Shower | Active period | Peak | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capricornids-Sagittariids | Jan 13 – Feb 28 | Jan 30 – Feb 3 | Daytime shower, very faint |
| Chi Capricornids | from Jan 29 | Feb 13 | Daytime shower, very low rate |
| February Leonids | all of February | no sharp peak | Several variable rates |
| Delta Leonids | from mid-February | Feb 25 | Radiant ~4° south of δ Leonis |
Daytime showers: the Capricornids-Sagittariids and Chi Capricornids
The tongue-twisting Capricornids-Sagittariids stream from the radiant in the constellation Capricornus, on the ecliptic. The catch: this meteor shower is nearly impossible for casual observers to catch from the northern sky. Its meteors are active in broad daylight and only weakly defined.
Earth crosses the orbit of the shower’s suspected parent comet from January 13 through February 28. Your best window for a single sighting — or maybe a handful — falls at the peak of activity between January 30 and February 3 each year.
Starting January 29, and again during the day, the meteors of the Chi Capricornids join in. Their radiant also sits in Capricornus. In the northern sky the peak of this little-known stream, on February 13, barely registers: the low hourly rate is compounded by daylight washing out any would-be meteors.
February Leonids and Delta Leonids: Leo takes center stage
Right at the start of the month, the constellation Leo sends a “shower of wishes” from its radiant above the ecliptic into our northern sky. The February Leonids stay active all month long, with uneven strength. There’s no single sharp peak — instead, several bursts at varying rates.
Observing gets trickier from mid-February, when the Delta Leonids take the stage in the northern sky. With a little experience you can tell that the two streams have distinct radiants, both in Leo above the ecliptic. On the strongest day of the Delta Leonids — their peak on February 25 — the shooting stars fan out from a point roughly 4° south of the star Delta Leonis.
How to watch February’s shooting stars
If you don’t want to give up your “wishing nights” in February, you’ll need patience and a wide field of view. Every shower this month is wafer-thin (some top out at 5 meteors per hour). Your naked eye is the best tool for the job: meteors streak across the whole sky, and a telescope’s narrow field would only make you miss them.
Get comfortable — lie back or use a reclining chair — let your eyes dark-adapt for 20 to 30 minutes, and sweep large swaths of sky. A pair of bright binoculars makes an ideal companion: between meteors, they open up the winter star clusters and the rich star fields around Auriga.
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Where to look: radiants and the best nights
It pays off most on moonless, cloud-free nights: face the radiants in Capricornus and Leo (on the ecliptic), then look high toward the circumpolar northern sky, over toward the constellation Auriga (the Charioteer). Get away from city lights — under a truly dark sky, even a faint shower delivers its best streaks.
Because the peaks of activity are spread across the whole month, plan several short outings rather than one long vigil. Check the weather, track the Moon’s phase, and favor the pre-dawn hours, which are often the most productive for meteors.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any meteor showers in February 2026?
Yes, but only very faint ones: the Capricornids-Sagittariids, Chi Capricornids, February Leonids and Delta Leonids. None exceeds about 5 meteors per hour, and several are active during the daytime.
What is the best meteor shower in February?
The Delta Leonids, peaking on February 25, offer the most accessible window from the Northern Hemisphere, because their radiant in Leo is active at night — unlike the Capricornus streams, which peak in daylight.
Do I need a telescope to see shooting stars?
No. Meteors move too fast and range too widely for a telescope. The naked eye is ideal; a pair of binoculars is mainly for exploring the sky between meteors.
Which direction should I look in February?
Toward the radiants in Capricornus and Leo, and high into the circumpolar northern sky near Auriga. A dark site away from light pollution makes all the difference.
Why are some February showers invisible?
Because they are daytime showers: their radiant lies in the daytime sky. Sunlight then drowns out their already sparse meteors, making them impossible to see with the eye.
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