Argentina · 33° S

The next meteor shower over Mendoza is the Draconids.

Peak night is October 8, 2026.

Don't miss the next peak over Mendoza.

Free — one push the evening a shower peaks, and only when the sky is clear.

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Peak in Mendoza time
13:13
Radiant altitude
-6°
Moon
4%
Visibility
Poor

The peak night in Mendoza

Draconids, night of October 8 – 9. Every number below is computed for Mendoza’s exact coordinates and clock — not copied from a generic almanac.

Computed 2026-08-21 · times shown for America/Argentina/Mendoza

Peak
13:13October 8 – 9
Dark window
21:07–05:37fully dark sky
Best window
21:30–05:30
Radiant
Not visible
Moon
4%waning crescent
Peak rate (ZHR)
10/hr
Speed
20km/s
Radiant constellation
Draco

Sources: International Meteor Organization · IAU Meteor Data Center · astronomy-engine v2.1.19

Tonight over Mendoza

A live check for the coming night: what’s falling, when it’s worth being outside, and whether the weather will let you see any of it.

Computing tonight’s sky…

This year's meteor showers from Mendoza

Ranked by how good each one will actually look from Mendoza this year — radiant altitude, moon, and rate all factored in.

Why the view from Mendoza is different

Mendoza sits at 33°S. Showers with a far-southern radiant climb high overhead here, while some northern-sky showers barely clear the horizon or don't rise at all.

Meteor showers in Mendoza, month by month

The whole year from Mendoza’s latitude at a glance — each month’s headline shower, its peak night, and how the moon treats it. Quiet months are shown honestly: part of the sky’s calendar is simply empty, and knowing that saves you cold nights.

MonthHeadline showerPeak nightMoon at peakFrom Mendoza
JanuaryQuadrantidsJanuary 3, 202714%Not visible
FebruaryQuiet — sporadic meteors only
MarchQuiet — sporadic meteors only
AprilLyridsApril 22, 202796%Poor
MayEta AquariidsMay 6, 20270%Fair
JuneQuiet — sporadic meteors only
JulySouthern Delta AquariidsJuly 30, 202713%Fair
AugustPerseidsAugust 12, 202784%Not visible
SeptemberQuiet — sporadic meteors only
OctoberOrionidsOctober 21, 202675%Poor
NovemberLeonidsNovember 17, 202651%Poor
DecemberGeminidsDecember 14, 202622%Fair

Two patterns in the table are worth a second look. First, the moon column reshuffles the year every year: a shower that fought a full moon last season may get a black sky this one. That is why the ratings above are computed fresh for Mendoza and this year’s geometry — not copied from a fixed almanac that ages badly.

Second, latitude is destiny. From 33°S, some radiants simply ride higher than others ever can, and a modest shower with a well-placed radiant will quietly outperform a famous one that never clears Mendoza’s rooftops. When the table disagrees with a headline, trust the table — it knows where you live.

Where to go from Mendoza

From Mendoza the sky keeps improving for about 28 km — that is where the glow around you falls to a twentieth of what it is over the city centre. Thirty kilometres out already puts you at roughly 3% of the city-centre glow, so an evening drive genuinely changes what you can see.

Direction matters as much as distance. At the same range the sky northwest of the city sits at about <1% of the centre, while southeast is still 1% — the same drive, several times the difference.

Where people actually go

Places near here that people genuinely use for meteor watching — dark-sky parks, observatories with public evenings, campgrounds where staying out all night is allowed. Each one was checked against what its manager publishes, because a park being dark and a park being open at 2 a.m. are two different facts.

  • Gran Hotel Potrerillos
    33 km west-southwest · sky glow 3% of the city centre

    A mountain hotel by the Potrerillos reservoir about 70 km from Mendoza that runs guided night-sky observation for guests and visitors.

    Source

Measured from: VIIRS VNL 2025 (Earth Observation Group)

Reading the numbersMore on this in the guide

Common questions about Mendoza

When is the next meteor shower in Mendoza?+

The Draconids, peaking on the night of October 8, 2026 local time.

What's the best meteor shower to watch from Mendoza this year?+

The Eta Aquariids — its radiant climbs highest above Mendoza's horizon this year with the least moonlight in the way, so it's the best bet for peak rates.

Will the moon spoil the Draconids from Mendoza?+

On the peak night the moon is 4% lit (waning crescent). Dark enough that moonlight won’t be the limiting factor — sky quality and clouds will decide your night.

Is anything visible from Mendoza tonight, before the peak?+

Usually yes. Showers run for days to weeks around their maximum, and the sporadic background adds a few meteors an hour on any dark night. The “Tonight” panel above computes the coming night for Mendoza specifically — what’s falling, the best window, and whether the clouds will allow any of it.

How many meteor showers can you see from Mendoza?+

Of the eleven major annual showers, 7 are visible from Mendoza's latitude this year, though cloud cover and moonlight decide how many meteors you'll actually count on any given night.

Do I need to leave Mendoza to see a meteor shower?+

You don't need to, but it helps a lot. City light pollution washes out all but the brightest meteors — driving even 30–45 minutes to a darker sky can turn a handful of sightings into dozens.

Meteor showers in nearby cities

Get alerts for Mendoza

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