The next dark nights

Stars are best when the moon is down. These are the moonless windows and meteor nights for the months ahead, computed for the continental U.S.

November 2026

New moon Nov 9Leonid meteor shower peaks Nov 17

Nov 5–11Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month, with extra shooting stars (Leonids)★ Plan around this
Nov 17–18Half moon, sets around midnightMeteor shower peak (Leonids)

December 2026

New moon Dec 8Geminid meteor shower peaks Dec 13Ursid meteor shower peaks Dec 22

Dec 5–11Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month, with extra shooting stars (Geminids)★ Plan around this
Dec 13–14Thin crescent, sets earlyMeteor shower peak (Geminids)
Dec 22–23Full moon, up all nightMeteor shower peak (Ursids)

January 2027

Quadrantid meteor shower peaks Jan 3New moon Jan 7

Jan 3–4Thin crescent, rises lateMeteor shower peak (Quadrantids)
Jan 4–9Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month, with extra shooting stars (Quadrantids)★ Plan around this

February 2027

New moon Feb 6

Feb 3–8Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this

March 2027

New moon Mar 8

Mar 4–10Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this

April 2027

New moon Apr 6Lyrid meteor shower peaks Apr 22

Apr 3–8Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this
Apr 22–23Bright moon for most of the nightMeteor shower peak (Lyrids)

May 2027

Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks May 5New moon May 6

May 3–7Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month, with a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids)★ Plan around this
May 5–6None · darkest skiesMeteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids)

June 2027

New moon Jun 4

Jun 1–6Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this

July 2027

New moon Jul 3Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks Jul 30

Jul 1–5Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this
Jul 30–31Thin crescent, rises lateMeteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids)

August 2027

New moon Aug 2Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug 12New moon Aug 31

Jul 30–Aug 3Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month, with a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids)★ Plan around this
Aug 12–13Bright moon for most of the nightMeteor shower peak (Perseids)
Aug 28–Sep 2Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this

September 2027

New moon Sep 29

Sep 27–Oct 1Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nightsThe darkest stretch of the month★ Plan around this

Computed from public astronomical data. Updated monthly. Dates are for the continental U.S. and can shift by a day elsewhere.
How it's computed · Get this as a monthly email

The Dark Sky Trip Calendar

About one email a month: the new-moon windows, the meteor showers worth a drive, and the parks at their best. Nothing else.

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