Showtime in the Skies

By Jack Tuszynski

Spread out a comfy blanket or pull up a reclining lounge chair and lay back because the sky is the limit for some faraway nighttime phenomena this year. Plan to spend some quality time relaxing with family and friends in the great outdoors while keeping your eyes on the heavens for these stunning celestial shows.

 

Eta Aquarids

Peak Dates: May 6-7
Runs Annually: April 19 - May 28
Moon Phase: Second Quarter
Best Viewing: After Midnight

The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower can produce about 30 meteors per hour in the northern hemisphere. It is produced by dust particles left behind by Halley’s Comet. The second quarter moon will block out the faintest meteors this year, but you should still be able to catch quite a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius.

 

Delta Aquarids

Peak Dates: July 28-29
Runs Annually: July 12 - August 23
Moon Phase: Nearly Full
Best Viewing: Before Dawn

The Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour. It is produced by debris left behind by the Marsden and Kracht Comets. The nearly full moon will affect visibility this year since its glare will block most of the faintest meteors, but you should still be able to see some of the brighter ones. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius but can appear anywhere in the sky.

 

Perseids

Peak Dates: August 12-13
Runs Annually: July 17 - August 24
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
Best Viewing: After Midnight

The Perseids Meteor Shower will be one of the best to observe because it can produce up to 60 meteors per hour, many of which are very bright. It is produced by the Swift-Tuttle Comet, which was discovered in 1862. The waxing crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus but can appear anywhere in the sky.

 

Draconids

Peak Date: October 7
Runs Annually: October 6-10
Moon Phase: Nearly New
Best Viewing: Early Evening

The minor Draconids Meteor Shower is produced by dust grains left behind by the 21P Giacobini-Zinner Comet that was first discovered in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower in that the best viewing time is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other meteor showers. This year, the nearly new moon will leave dark skies for what should be a great show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco.

 

Orionids

Peak Dates: October 21-22
Runs Annually: Oct. 2 - Nov. 7
Moon Phase: Full
Best Viewing: After Midnight

The Orionids Meteor Shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by Halley’s Comet. This year, the full moon will be a problem because its glare will block out all but the brightest meteors. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion but can appear anywhere in the sky.

 

Leonids

Peak Dates: November 17-18
Runs Annually: November 6-30
Moon Phase: Full
Best Viewing: After Midnight

The Leonids Meteor Shower can produce up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. It is produced by dust grains left behind by the Temple-Tuttle Comet, which was discovered in 1865. The nearly full moon will dominate the sky, blocking all but the brightest meteors, which will radiate from the constellation Leo.

 

Geminids

Peak Dates: December 13-14
Runs Annually: December 7-17
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Best Viewing: After Midnight

The Geminids Meteor Shower may produce up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour. It is produced by debris left behind by the 3200 Phaethon Asteroid, which was discovered in 1982. The waxing gibbous moon will block out most of the fainter meteors, but the Geminids are so numerous and bright that this could still be a good show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini.

 

Ursids

Peak Dates: December 21-22
Runs Annually: December 17-25
Moon Phase: Full
Best Viewing: After Midnight

The Ursids Meteor Shower produces about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by the Tuttle Comet, which was first discovered in 1790. The nearly full moon will be a problem this year, blocking all but the brightest meteors. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor but can appear anywhere in the sky.

 

In addition to the moon’s phase and manmade outdoor light pollution, weather conditions are another factor that will affect the success of your meteor shower viewing experience.

 

Sources — AMS.org, EarthSky.org, NASA.gov