Astro-Observer

Meteor showers

Epsilon Geminid Meteor Shower

By Astro-Observer · Last reviewed November 8, 2026

Active
October 14 – October 27
Peak
Around October 18–19
Peak rate (ZHR)
3
Radiant
Gemini (6h 48m, +27°)
Speed
70 km/s (fast)
Best seen from
Northern Hemisphere
Best time
After midnight, best before dawn

Next peaks

Expected peak (UTC)Moon at peakMoonlight
October 19, 2027, around 0h Waning gibbous, 87% lit Bright Moon
October 18, 2028, around 6h New Moon, 0% lit Little or none

The maximum is poorly defined and may come later than listed. IMO reports rates of about 3 an hour lasting for more than a day.

Computed from the shower's peak solar longitude (λ☉ 205°). Real peaks can come a few hours early or late, and you will see meteors on the nights either side. The peak hour may be in daylight where you are; watch the darkest hours of the nearest night.

The Epsilon Geminids are a weak shower in the second half of October, active alongside the Orionids. Their radiant is only about 13 degrees from the Orionid radiant and the meteors look alike, so telling them apart takes care.

Where the meteors come from

No parent comet or asteroid has been identified. The meteors hit the atmosphere at about 70 km/s, among the fastest of any shower, which is only possible for meteoroids moving against Earth's direction around the Sun. IMO notes that the shower's basic parameters are still uncertain.

When to watch

Activity runs from October 14 to 27, with a poorly defined peak around October 18–19 (see the note under the table above, which also shows the Moon). From mid-northern latitudes the radiant rises in the late evening, and IMO advises watching from about midnight. It is highest before dawn, the best time to watch.

How to find the radiant

The radiant is in Gemini, about 2 degrees north of the star Epsilon Geminorum (Mebsuta) and roughly 11 degrees west-southwest of Castor, one of the two bright stars marking the Twins' heads. The Orionid radiant is about 13 degrees farther south-southwest, northeast of Betelgeuse. From 40°N the radiant climbs to nearly 80 degrees up before dawn.

What to expect

With a ZHR of about 3, expect one or two an hour from a dark site and next to none from the suburbs. They are fast, and the population index of 3.0 means most are faint. Trace each meteor back: if it points near Mebsuta rather than to the Orionid radiant, it is an Epsilon Geminid.

Viewing tips

  • Combine it with an Orionid watch: same hours, same part of the sky.
  • Mark both radiants on a star chart before you go out.
  • Judge by direction, not looks; the two showers have similar speeds.
  • Dress in layers; October mornings are cold.

History and notable displays

The Epsilon Geminids are a minor shower mainly followed by experienced observers and video networks. The main open question is the timing of the peak: IMO lists October 18, but visual and video data suggest it may come later, with ZHRs near 3 for more than a day.

About the numbers. The ZHR (zenithal hourly rate) is how many meteors one observer would see in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant straight overhead. Real counts are almost always lower: under suburban skies, or with the radiant low, expect a half to a quarter of it, or less.

Sources

Checked November 8, 2026.