Meteor Showers

Leonid Meteor Shower

November 17/18

 

This is the time of year for raking leaves, finding the perfect turkey, and watching the Leonid Meteor Shower. Leonid Meteors can be seen from November 10 - November 23, with the peak night being November 17 into the early morning hours of November 18. Expect to see between 10 - 20 meteors per hour (on a normal night you might see between 4 - 6 per hour). In 2011, bright moonlight from the waning gibbous Moon which rises at 11:31 PM on the 17th will interfere, so look toward the darkest part of your sky.

The Leonid Meteor Shower is caused by debris left behind by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. The debris ranges in size from the size of a pea on down. The Leonid Meteor Shower was first observed in 1833 as a meteor storm when thousands of meteors fell per hour. They seemed to all be coming from the constellation Leo.

 

 

As you can see from this drawing, the sky was literally raining meteors. In Athens, OH, we observed a meteor storm during the Leonids in 2001 in the early morning hours of November 18, 2001, when thousands of meteors fell per hour for several hours. It was a stunning display!

The Leonids are best observed in the early morning hours as the constellation Leo climbs towards the zenith. Grab a lawn chair (preferably one that reclines), a blanket or sleeping bag (it's cold out there), and some hot chocolate, and then, in the words of the late Jack Horkheimer, "Keep looking up!"

This event is free and open to the public :)  

Leonid Meteor Shower - 2011 Leonid Meteor Shower - 2011

Geminid Meteor Shower

December 13/14

 

     The Geminid Meteor Shower is unique in that these meteors are debris left behind by an asteroid, whereas all other meteor showers can be traced toa parent comet. The Geminids are left behind bits of the asteroid Phaethon. Why this rocky asteroid is leaving behind bits that become our meteors is still under study.

 

     The Geminids seem to radiate from the constellation Gemini. The shower lasts from December 6 to December 18 with the peak being on the night of December 13/14. During the peak, up to 80 meteors per hour can be seen under ideal conditions.

The Geminids were first discovered in 1862. During the early years, rates ran between 10-20 meteors per hour, and rose steadily through the 1970s. The rates have remained consistently in the 80 meteors per hour range ever since.

 

For a more detailed history, click here.

Quadrantid Meteor Shower

January 3/4

 

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower can be the most active meteor shower of the year, but getting to see these meteors can be problematic. The peak of the shower lasts for only a few hours with rates as high as 120 meteors per hour. The waxing gibbous Moon will set at 2:39 AM (EST) on January 4th, so the best time to watch is from 2 AM to dawn. Besides dealing with freezing temperatures, it is also the cloudiest time of the year. 

 

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower was named for a now defunct constellation - Quadrans Muralis (mural quadrant). The radiant is below the Big Dipper and above the constellation Bootes. It was believed to be an orphan meteor shower with no parent comet, until 2003 when it was linked to asteroid 2003 EH1 by Peter Jenniskens. This asteroid is thought to be expired comet C/1490 Y1.

 

Quadrantid Meteors can be observed from December 28 through January 10, with the peak falling on the evening of January 3 - 4. Qudrantid Meteors travel at a speed of 25 miles per second (41 kph). The peak has been predicted to be from 2 - 4 AM on January 4th. Bundle up, grab your favorite hot beverage and drag out that lawn chair if the skies are clear. You won't be disappointed!

Look to the northeastern sky from 2 AM to dawn to spot the radiant of the annual Quadrantid meteor shower. Credit: NASA/JPL Look to the northeastern sky from 2 AM to dawn to spot the radiant of the annual Quadrantid meteor shower. Credit: NASA/JPL

Update (January 5, 2012): The actual meteor counts are coming in showing a peak rate that is far short of the expected rate. The International Meteor Organization is posting actual counts. Click here to go to their website.

 

Locally, we had high clouds from 2 - 3 AM obscuring all but the brightest meteors. From 3 - 4 AM, we had clearer skies but very few meteors. Local counts were in the 10 - 20 meteors per hour range. Observers were able to watch the NASA live video stream and to hear meteors using Space Weather Radio.

This page is under construction. Please check back. We will be adding content on all the other major meteor showers.