Honestly, the January sky in New York is usually just a cold, grey blanket of disappointment. But tonight is actually a little different. If you've been scrolling through social media and seeing hyped-up posts about a "massive firework show" in the atmosphere, you might want to lower your expectations just a hair, but don't close your curtains yet.
Tonight, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we are right in the thick of a lesser-known celestial event: the Gamma Ursae Minorids meteor shower.
It’s not the Geminids. It’s definitely not the Perseids. But there’s a specific reason why tonight’s meteor shower in New York is actually worth a quick look, even if the "shooting star" count per hour sounds kinda low.
The Gamma Ursae Minorids: Why Tonight is Secretly Perfect
Most people ignore the Gamma Ursae Minorids because, on paper, they look weak. We’re talking about maybe 3 meteors per hour. Yeah, you read that right. It’s not a "storm." However, here is the kicker for January 2026: The Moon is basically invisible.
We are currently in a Waxing Crescent phase, and the moon is only about 1% or 2% illuminated. In the world of stargazing, that’s basically a cheat code. When the big, bright moon isn't hogging the spotlight, even the faint, wispy meteors from a minor shower like the Gamma Ursae Minorids actually stand a chance of being seen by the human eye.
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The radiant—basically the point in the sky where the meteors seem to "spawn" from—is located near the star Kochab in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). Since Ursa Minor is a circumpolar constellation for us here in New York, it stays above the horizon all night. You don't have to wait for it to rise; it's already there, circling the North Star.
Real Talk on New York Weather and Light Pollution
Let’s be real. Seeing any meteor shower in New York tonight depends entirely on two things: the clouds and the light.
As of this afternoon, the forecast for the tri-state area is looking... well, typical for January. AccuWeather is calling for some significant cloud cover (around 99% in some spots) and even a bit of light snow. If you're sitting in Midtown Manhattan, your odds of seeing a meteor through a layer of clouds and the glow of Times Square are, frankly, zero.
But New York is a big state.
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If you can get yourself even an hour north into the Hudson Valley, or out toward the eastern tips of Long Island (think Montauk or the North Fork), those breaks in the clouds become your best friend. The cold air tonight is actually a plus—colder air holds less moisture, which often results in much "sharper" stars when the clouds actually part.
Where to go if you're serious
- Montauk Point State Park: It’s far enough from the city glow that the eastern horizon is pitch black.
- Bear Mountain or Harriman State Park: A classic for a reason. Get away from the streetlights.
- Marine Park, Brooklyn: If you absolutely cannot leave the city, the Salt Marsh Nature Center area is one of the few spots where the horizon isn't completely eaten by skyscrapers.
Wait, what about the Northern Lights?
You might have heard whispers about the Aurora Borealis hitting New York tonight, too. Space.com and NOAA have been tracking a high-speed solar wind stream from a "colossal coronal hole" on the sun. This has triggered a G1 to G2 level geomagnetic storm.
While the aurora is notoriously fickle, there is a legitimate chance that the northern horizon could glow green or purple tonight. Combining a potential aurora with a meteor shower in New York tonight is like hitting the celestial lottery. Even if you don't see a "shooting star," you might catch that eerie, dancing light.
How to actually see a meteor tonight
Don't use a telescope. I know, it sounds counterintuitive. But meteor showers are a wide-angle event. A telescope is like looking at the sky through a straw; you’ll miss 99% of the action.
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- Ditch the phone. Your eyes need at least 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. One "quick" check of your Instagram feed resets that clock to zero.
- Look North-ish. The radiant is near the Little Dipper. You don't need to stare at one exact spot, but keeping your gaze toward the northern half of the sky is your best bet.
- Bundle up. It’s going to be in the teens (Fahrenheit) tonight with the wind chill. If you’re shivering, you aren't looking at the stars; you're looking at your watch.
- Lie down. Using a lawn chair or a blanket prevents "stargazer’s neck."
The "Expert" Perspective on 2026 Meteor Events
Astronomers like Dominic Ford from In-The-Sky.org and the folks at the American Meteor Society point out that the Gamma Ursae Minorids are "Class IV" showers. This means they are weak. But again, the lack of moonlight tonight is the "expert" reason to pay attention. In years where this shower peaks during a full moon, it's a complete wash. Tonight, it's a "maybe," and in astronomy, "maybe" is often where the magic happens.
Practical Next Steps for Tonight
Check the satellite loop on a weather app before you head out. Don't just look at the "partly cloudy" icon—look at the actual movement of the clouds. If there's a clear patch moving in from the west, that's your window.
If you miss the Gamma Ursae Minorids tonight, don't sweat it. The Quadrantids already peaked earlier this month, but the next big show is the Lyrids in April. However, for a quiet Sunday night in January, taking twenty minutes to stand in the dark and look up is a pretty decent way to end the weekend.
Your Action Plan:
- Check the cloud cover at 9:00 PM.
- If it's clear, grab a thermos of something hot.
- Head to the darkest spot within a 15-minute drive.
- Look North and wait.
The universe doesn't always put on a stadium show, but sometimes the "indie" performances are the ones you remember.