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One of the most common questions I’m asked about meteor showers is, “When is the best time to look?” The answer is generally in the morning. The time to see meteors is misunderstood by most people. Meteor gazers commonly assume that a meteor shower is best seen at night when in fact most of the time they are really morning events and best seen before dawn and after midnight. Now for the second most frequently asked question, “Meteor Mark, you said the best date to see this meteor shower is Tuesday November 17th, what time should I look on Tuesday night?” My answer would most likely be, “Please don’t look Tuesday night, look in the morning on Tuesday after 12:01 AM before dawn because you will have missed the peak if you look Tuesday night!” If you still need convincing or want more enlightenment, here is more information – When to Look.
Depending on your time zone this may or may not always be the case, but for the most part it is generally applicable. Astronomers and scientists use Universal Time (UT) as a standard measure of time. You can visit the Meteor Glossary for a further description of Universal Time (UT) and use the clock below so you can view in the morning on the date closest to the peak.
The current Universal Time is:
I hope this saves you from missing a meteor shower. I’m always eager to help new and old meteor enthusiasts. Meteor hunting is fun for people of all ages and to me it’s one of nature’s finest occurrences.
Keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark
on Aug 26th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Good morning sir:
I would like to ask when is the best viewing time for this year’s Geminids meteor shower? Since it will peak at 13:08 Philippine time on the 14th of December, should I view it on dawn of the 14th or the dawn of the 15th?
Your reply will be greatly appreciated, I’m planning to make reservations out of town to view it properly and I really want to get the timing right.
Thank you in advance,
Andrew
on Aug 26th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Andrew,
The Geminids peak on December 14th at approximately 5:10 Universal Time (UT) which is Philippines Time 1:10 PM (13:10) or UT+8/GMT+8.
As described in the above post: “use the clock below so you can view in the morning on the date closest to the peak.”
In conclusion, for best results you should be looking before dawn when it is dark on December 14th and possibly there will be further activity through the night until dawn December 15th.
Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
on Aug 27th, 2009 at 5:36 am
wow thanks so much for the information, keep up the good work sir
you are of service to a lot of people and yes i will keep my head up
Andrew
on Aug 31st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I am looking for the next viewing of a meteor shower. I saw my first one this summer at the end of August and I was wondering when the next one was. I have been to plenty of sites and gotten so many answers. Is there one tomorrow?
on Aug 31st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Megan,
There is a minor meteor shower peaking on September 1 named the α-Aurigids. I’m not deterring you from having a look, but don’t expect tremendous amounts of activity. Please review this article that you commented in and also read the article – Where Are All the Meteor Showers?
You can join the mailing list and/or bookmark the site and find out when all the action is occurring. Regretfully, I think the α-Aurigids won’t be producing a lot of meteor viewing chances because of the waxing gibbous moon and the fact that it is a minor meteor shower.
Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
on Sep 7th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I’m new at this, I am in California and want to see the Leonid Shower (mini storm?) in 2009, but will we be able to see anything? Other websites say that Nov 17th & 18th — in Asia, at 21:00 UT is the optimum time and place … if I go to Death Valley, in California — what time of the night will the viewing likely be best? Thanks
on Sep 7th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Katy,
- Meteor Mark
on Sep 10th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Thanks Mark,
I did read it … I guess I am just confused about how they say ASIA is the best place to see the Leonids, because they will peak at 21:00 UT … so I took that literally to mean that we wouldn’t see much because that is 2pm PST???
I will sign up for your newsletter …
on Sep 10th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Katy and others who have the same question,
“Asia” is a huge place but if one uses the Philippines (UT+8) as an example 21:00 UT – November 17 translates to 05:00 November 18 where it just so happens to be a time in the morning before dawn and as I stated in the above post, “Before dawn is usually the best time to view meteors.”
If one uses California Time (UT-8) then 21:00 UT November 17 is 13:00 (1PM) California Time on November 17, so we conclude a time before dawn closes to the peak would be in the morning of November 17 where viewers should be looking when it is dark in that morning before dawn.
I think the confusion stems from thinking that meteor showers peak for short bursts when in fact they may be strong for several hours leading up to the “peak” and then after the “peak”. There is no exact science when it comes to meteors. Meteors remain one of astronomy’s most unpredictable events.
It may seem confusing, but when you break it down it should make sense.
It all starts when you keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark