21-22 - Ursids meteor shower: Running from Dec. A nearly full moon will block the faintest, but because they are so bright and numerous, the Geminids should still produce a good show.ĭec. Produced by debris left behind by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the meteors radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can be seen anywhere in the sky. 7-17, are often regarded as the best meteor shower of the year because they produce up to 120 bright, intensely colored meteors at the peak on Dec. 13-14 - Geminids meteor shower: The Geminids, which run Dec. The Leonids radiate from the constellation Leo, but can be seen from anywhere in the sky, with the best viewing times after midnight A second quarter moon will be problematic, blocking all but the brightest meteors.ĭec. However, in some years, a cyclonic peak about every 33 years can produce about 100 meteors an hour. 6-30 and produced by dust grains left behind by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the Leonids peak overnight Nov. 17-18 - Leonids meteor shower: Running from Nov. They radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can be seen from anywhere in the sky. The Taurids are unusual in that they consist of two separate streams - dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10 and debris from Comet 2P Encke. They rarely produce more than five or 10 meteors an hour, but are notable for colorful fireballs. 5 - Taurids meteor shower: A long-lasting meteor shower with several minor peaks in October and November, the Taurids run from Sept. A second quarter moon will block out the faintest meteors, but because the Orionids are bright, it could be a good show. 21-22, the Orionids produce about 20 meteors an hour in normal years, but in exceptional years, like 20, have rivaled the Perseids, Produced by dust grains left behind by the comet Halley, the meteors radiate from the constellation Orion, but can be seen from anywhere in the sky. 21-22 - Orionids meteor shower: Running from Oct. A first quarter moon sets shortly after midnight, leaving fairly dark skies. What makes this meteor shower unusual is that the best time to see them is in early evening. Produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, first discovered in 1900, the Draconids radiate from the constellation Draco. 8, the Draconids produce about 10 meteors an hour, though there have been years, notably 19, when thousands of meteors per hour zoom across the sky. 8 - Draconids meteor shower: Running from Oct. The best viewing times are after midnight. The Perseids, produced by the comet Swift-Tuttle, radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can be seen from anywhere in the sky. They’re so bright and numerous that a good show could still be in store. In normal years, they produce from 50 to 75 meteors per hour, but a nearly full moon could block out the faintest meteors. 12-13 - Perseids meteor shower: The Perseids are the king of the summer meteor showers, running from July 17-Aug. The thin crescent moon sets in the early evening, making for ideal viewing conditions.Īug. Produced by dust particles left behind by the comet Halley, these meteors radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can be seen from anywhere in the sky. They are fast and can produce persistent trails, but don’t expect to see a lot of fireballs. May 6-7 - Eta Aquarids meteor shower: This long-running shower from April 19-May 28 peaks overnight May 6-7, and usually produces from 10 to 30 meteors an hour just before dawn in the Northern Hempisphere. While the meteors radiate from the constellation Lyra, they can appear anywhere in the sky. A waning gibbous moon will block out the faintest meteors, but patient skywatchers should be rewarded. The shower’s parent is comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, discovered in 1861. April 22-23 - Lyrids meteor shower: This medium-strength meteor shower, which sometimes produces bright trails that can last for several seconds, runs from April 16-25 and peaks overnight April 22-23.
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