The Orionids sometimes yield about 20 to 25 meteors per hour throughout their peak and are recognized for being notably vivid—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 nicely earlier than midnight, so you should have good viewing circumstances 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, nonetheless, predict that this bathe will peak from November 17 to November 18. Throughout the Leonids’ peak, you may anticipate to see about 15 meteors per hour beneath darkish skies.
Though the Leonids produce fewer meteors than many different of the key meteor showers, they’re recognized for producing fast-moving, vivid, fireball meteors.
The Leonids peak simply earlier than the brand new moon—on the morning of November 18, the moon will likely be simply 6 p.c illuminated and within the jap US gained’t rise till round 5 am on November 17, so that you’ll have ample time to see this meteor bathe beneath good viewing circumstances.
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 one of the best 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 vivid, slow-moving meteors that always have yellow tones, however they could be a vary of different colours, together with inexperienced, blue, white, purple, 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 likely be above the horizon all evening and can attain its highest level round 2 am native time, so meteors will likely be seen nearly the entire evening.
That very same evening, the moon will likely be about 32 p.c illuminated and can rise round 1:30 am within the jap US, so for those who watch this bathe shortly after midnight, the moonlight gained’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, sometimes yields about 10 meteors per hour; nonetheless, viewing circumstances will likely be good 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 sometimes 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 the complete evening throughout this bathe’s peak. In northern latitudes the Ursids’ radiant is above the horizon all evening.