When is the best time to view a meteor shower? Why is after midnight a good time to view a meteor shower?
As a general rule no matter what time zone a person is viewing meteors from, the majority of meteor showers are best seen after midnight.
Following midnight, an observer is on the front edge of the Earth. As the rotation of Earth turns into a meteoroid’s path the speed of meteors seen in the sky increases; therefore creating more dazzling, brighter and faster meteors. This will increase the amount of meteors a person will see.
On the contrary, a viewer will see the opposite effect before midnight as the Earth is turning away from the meteoroids, as they will have to chase a viewing location for one to view them.
In conclusion, more meteors are seen in the skies after midnight until before dawn because of this phenomenon. Not only are more meteors seen in the pre-dawn hours, but their impact speeds encountering the Earth’s atmosphere are much higher and the meteors are generally brighter. If you would like to learn more, the Meteor Glossary may help.
on Nov 15th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Meteor Mark,
Can you clarify this point?
-Roger
Santa Cruz, Calif.
“On the contrary, a viewer will see the opposite effect before midnight as the Earth is turning away from the meteoroids, as they will have to chase a viewing location for one to view them.”
on Nov 15th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Roger,
Thanks for the comment. I really had a hard time expressing myself with that one. Let me try to clarify with a diagram I made.
The Earth in Viewing Location A will be turning away from the path of the meteoroids, whereas in Viewing Location B the Earth will be turning into the stream of meteoroids.
So in Viewing Location A the meteors would be “chasing the rotation of the Earth”
Meteors entering the atmosphere in Location B will be faster and brighter.
Hope this helps,
Meteor Mark
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Perfect! Thanks!
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
You’re welcome Roger,
We can conclude that mostly any meteor shower is commonly best seen after midnight anywhere in the world.
Keep your head up,
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
which location is B? in the South or North ?
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Christelle,
It can be North, East, West or South for any meteor shower. Please read the posts about the Leonids, their radiant (click for radiant definition) is in the Constellation Leo, if you need help finding Leo, look at this post – Leonids Meteor Shower of 2008 News Flash and view the other posts on the site by using the search feature in the upper right hand corner of your page, the location of Leo in your morning sky varies by location of where you are in the world.
-Meteor Mark
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 12:41 am
I was hoping you could answer when the meteor shower on june 27th, 2009 ( this saturday, in fact) will start; if you know an accurate time that’d be much appreciated.
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Oh and, I’m very anxious to get your reply as soon as you can. But…Do you know a specific time we can see the meteor shower on june 27th, 2009 in New Jersey? That’d also be much appreciated^^ Also, if possible, do you have a whole list of meteor showings in july for people in New Jersey to see?
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Peppina,
As posted in this blog post that you commented in, meteor showers are best viewed from midnight until dawn when the skies are darkest.
You can also check the “Meteor Shower Viewing” tips page on this site located in the upper right. I usually post a list of the meteor showers at the beginning of each month for that month so check the site the first week of the corresponding month.
In July there are two active meteor showers that may or may not produce much activity until the end of the month.
Meteor shower viewing still remains one of the most unpredictable events in astronomy.
- Meteor Mark