The Orionids sometimes yield about 20 to 25 meteors per hour throughout their peak and are recognized for being significantly shiny—most 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 should 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 probably 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. Through 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 key meteor showers, they’re recognized for producing fast-moving, bright, fireball meteors.
The Leonids peak simply earlier than the brand new moon—on the morning of November 18, the moon shall be simply 6 percent illuminated and within the japanese US gained’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 one of the best time for skywatching.
The Geminids are probably 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 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 attributable to comet particles, the Geminids are the remnant of an asteroid.
The evening that the Geminids peak, their radiant, the constellation Gemini, shall be above the horizon all evening and can attain its highest level round 2 am native time, so meteors shall be seen virtually the entire evening.
That very same evening, the moon shall be about 32 percent illuminated and can rise round 1:30 am within the japanese US, so for those who watch this bathe shortly after midnight, the moonlight gained’t intervene 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 yielding about 10 meteors per hour; nevertheless, viewing situations shall be excellent for skywatching. The moon will set at roughly 6 pm within the japanese US on the twenty first, so no moonlight will intervene with this meteor bathe.
