The Orionid meteor shower typically produces about 20 to 25 meteors per hour at its peak and is known to be particularly bright. Many of the Orionid meteor showers are bolide meteors. Like Eta Aquarius, the Orionid meteor shower is a remnant left behind by Halley’s Comet.
The Orionid meteor shower rises around 11pm local time and appears to radiate out from the constellation Orion, the highest point in the sky, just before dawn.
The new moon will occur on the night of October 21-22, and in the weeks surrounding it, the moon will set well before midnight, creating ideal viewing conditions for viewing this meteor shower.
Leonids meteor shower (November to December)
According to the American Meteor Society, the Leonid meteor shower will be active from approximately November 3rd to December 2nd. They have sharp peaks and produce the most meteors in a single night from November 16th to November 17th. However, other agencies predict that the peak of this rain will occur between November 17 and November 18. During the peak of the Leonid meteor shower, you can expect to see about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies.
Although the Leonid meteor shower produces fewer meteors than many other major meteor showers, it is known for producing fast and bright fireball meteors.
The Leonid meteor shower peaks just before the new moon. The moon will be only 6% bright on the morning of November 18th, but it won’t rise in the eastern United States until about 5 a.m. on November 17th, giving you plenty of time to see the new moon. This meteor shower can be seen under perfect viewing conditions.
The radiant light of the Leonid meteor shower rises in the constellation Leonid around midnight local time and is highest in the sky around dawn.
Geminid meteor shower (December)
The Geminid meteor shower will be active from December 4th to around December 17th, peaking overnight from December 13th to December 14th. Due to the sharp peak, the night of the 13th is the best time for sky watching.
The Geminid meteor shower is the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. In addition to boasting up to 120 and even 150 meteors per hour at its peak, this meteor shower is the brightest and most colorful of the year.
Geminid meteors are bright, slow-moving meteors that are often yellowish, but can also be a variety of colors, including green, blue, white, red, and orange. And unlike most meteors, which are caused by comet debris, the Geminid meteor shower is asteroid debris.
The peak of the Geminid meteor shower, its bright constellation Geminids, remains above the horizon all night, reaching its highest point around 2 a.m. local time, so the meteors can be seen almost all night.
That same night, the moon will be about 32% brighter, rising around 1:30 a.m. in the eastern United States. Therefore, if you observe this shower after midnight, the moonlight will not interfere with your viewing experience.
Urus (December)
The Ursa Minor meteor shower will be active from December 17th to December 26th, peaking in the early morning hours of December 22nd. This meteor shower is less active than other meteor showers, typically producing about 10 meteors per hour. However, observation conditions are perfect for skywatching. The moon will set around 6pm on the 21st in the eastern United States, so this meteor shower will not be affected by moonlight.
Ursa Major usually produces the most meteors before dawn, but during the peak of this rain you can see meteors all night long, when its glow, the Lesser Dipper (or Ursa Major), is highest in the sky. You can. In northern latitudes, the urinoid synchrotron remains above the horizon throughout the night.
(Tag translation) Science
