The Orionids typically produce about 20 to 25 meteors per hour during their peak and are known to be particularly bright – many of the Orionids are fireball meteors. Like the Eta Aquarids, Orionid is debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
The Orionids appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises around 11pm local time and is highest in the sky just before dawn.
The new moon falls on the night of October 21-22, and the surrounding week will see the moon set before midnight, so you’ll have perfect conditions to see this meteor shower.
Leonidas (November-December)
The Leonids are active from about November 3rd to December 2nd. According to the American Meteor Society, they have a sharp peak, producing the most meteors overnight from November 16 to November 17. Other organizations, however, predict that this shower will peak November 17 to November 18. During the peak of the Leonids, you can expect to see about 15 meters per hour under dark skies.
Although the Leonids produce fewer meteors than many other major meteor showers, they are known for Producing fast moving, bright, fireballs.
The peak of the Leonids just before the new moon – on the morning of November 18, the moon will be fine 6 percent illuminated And will not grow around in the eastern US 5 am on November 17, so you’ll have plenty of time to see this meteor shower under perfect viewing conditions.
The brightest constellation of the Leonids is Leo, which rises at midnight local time and is highest in the sky around dawn.
Geminids (December)
The Geminids are active from approximately December 4th to December 17th, peaking overnight from December 13th to December 14th. Their peak is sharp, so the night of the 13th is the best time for skywatching.
The Geminids are the most spectacular meteor shower of the year: in addition to boasting speeds of up to 120 or even 150 meters per hour during its peak, this meteor shower is also the brightest and most colorful of the year.
Geminids are bright, slow-moving meteors that are often yellow in color, but can be a range of other colors, including green, blue, white, red, or orange. And unlike most meteors, which are caused by cometary debris, the Geminids are the remnants of an asteroid.
The night the Geminids peak, their bright, constellation Gemini, will stay above the horizon all night and reach its highest point around 2 a.m. local time, so the meteors will be visible almost all night.
That night, the moon will be approx 32 percent illuminated And will grow around 1:30am in the eastern US, so if you watch this shower shortly after midnight, the moonlight won’t interfere with your viewing experience.
Ursids (December)
Ursids are active around December 17th to December 26th, peaking in the early morning hours of December 22nd. This meteor shower is less active than others, typically yielding about 10 meteors per hour; However, the viewing conditions will be perfect for skywatching. On the 21st the moon will set in the eastern US around 6pm, so no moon will interfere with this meteor shower.
Although the Ursids typically produce the most meteors before dawn, when its brightest, Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is highest in the sky, you’ll be able to see meteors throughout the night during the peak of this shower. . In northern latitudes the Ursids glow above the horizon all night.
