The Orionids usually yield about 20 to 25 meteors per hour throughout their peak and are identified for being significantly shiny—lots of the Orionids are fireball meteors. Just like the Eta Aquariids, the Orionids are additionally particles left behind by Halley’s Comet.
The Orionids seem to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises round 11 pm native time and is highest within the sky simply earlier than daybreak.
The brand new moon falls on the evening of October 21–22, and within the surrounding week the moon will set properly earlier than midnight, so you’ll have excellent viewing situations to see this meteor bathe.
The Leonids (November–December)
The Leonids are lively from about November 3 to December 2. They’ve a pointy peak, producing essentially the most meteors in a single day from November 16 to November 17, in line with the American Meteor Society. Different organizations, nevertheless, predict that this bathe will peak from November 17 to November 18. In the course of the Leonids’ peak, you possibly can count on to see about 15 meteors per hour beneath darkish skies.
Though the Leonids produce fewer meteors than many different of the most important meteor showers, they’re identified for producing fast-moving, shiny, fireball meteors.
The Leonids peak simply earlier than the brand new moon—on the morning of November 18, the moon will probably be simply 6 p.c illuminated and within the jap US received’t rise till round 5 am on November 17, so that you’ll have ample time to see this meteor bathe beneath excellent viewing situations.
The Leonids’ radiant is the constellation Leo, which rises round midnight native time and is highest within the sky round daybreak.
The Geminids (December)
The Geminids are lively from about December 4 to December 17, peaking in a single day from December 13 to December 14. They’ve a pointy peak, so the evening of the thirteenth is the most effective time for skywatching.
The Geminids are essentially the most spectacular meteor bathe of the 12 months: Along with boasting as much as 120 and even 150 meteors per hour throughout its peak, this meteor bathe can be the brightest and most colourful of the 12 months.
The Geminids are shiny, slow-moving meteors that usually have yellow tones, however they could be a vary of different colours, together with inexperienced, blue, white, pink, or orange. And in contrast to most meteors, that are brought on by comet particles, the Geminids are the remnant of an asteroid.
The evening that the Geminids’ peak, the their radiant, the constellation Gemini, will probably be above the horizon all evening and can attain its highest level round 2 am native time, so meteors will probably be seen nearly the entire evening.
That very same evening, the moon will probably be about 32 p.c illuminated and can rise round 1:30 am within the jap US, so in the event you watch this bathe shortly after midnight, the moonlight received’t intrude along with your viewing expertise.
The Ursids (December)
The Ursids are lively round December 17 to December 26, peaking within the early morning hours of December 22. This meteor bathe is much less lively than others, usually yields about 10 meteors per hour; nevertheless, viewing situations will probably be excellent for skywatching. The moon will set at roughly 6 pm within the jap US on the twenty first, so no moonlight will intrude with this meteor bathe.
Regardless that the Ursids usually produce essentially the most meteors simply earlier than daybreak, when its radiant, the Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is highest within the sky, it is possible for you to to see meteors all through your entire evening throughout this bathe’s peak. In northern latitudes the Ursids’ radiant is above the horizon all evening.
