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The Aurigids Meteor Shower Will Be Visible From Ecuador. When Is the Best Time to Watch?

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Explainer Named sources Context piece
  • The Aurigids meteor shower will remain active from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, reaching peak activity during the early hours of Sept. 1.
  • Quito’s astronomical observatory says the best viewing window in Ecuador will be from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. local time.
  • A waning gibbous moon illuminated at about 80% will limit visibility, with observers advised to seek dark locations and block direct moonlight.

Ecuador will have a chance to see the Aurigids meteor shower at its peak in the early hours of Sept. 1, 2026. The best conditions, according to the Quito Astronomical Observatory, will come between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. local time, before sunrise.

The annual shower remains active from Aug. 28 through Sept. 5. Its meteors come from particles released by the long-period comet C/1911 N1 (Kiess), which completes an orbit in about 2,000 years. The radiant lies below the constellation Auriga and becomes visible in the northeastern sky from about 2:30 a.m. local time.

Viewing will be more difficult this year because a waning gibbous moon will be nearly 80% illuminated. The Quito observatory estimates a maximum of 10 meteors per hour, while Star Walk forecasts up to six per hour under dark-sky conditions.

Astronomers recommend choosing a location with little light pollution. Buildings or trees can help block direct moonlight, making the brightest meteor trails easier to detect.

About this summary

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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