Category Archives: September Meteor Shower

Sep 03

Meteor Shower Silence Until Orion Screams

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MeteorThe next couple of months are a slow time for meteor shower viewing even though there are several occurring. In October the Orionids Meteor Shower is always a welcome treat after the doldrums of September, but even the Orionids doesn’t peak until late October.

Below is a table detailing the schedule of meteor shower occurrences starting in September:

Meteor Shower Start Maximum End ZHR
α-Aurigids Aug 25 Sep 1 Sep 8 5
September Perseids Sep 5 Sep 9 Sep 17 6
δ-Aurigids Sep 18 Sep 29 Oct 10 2
Southern Taurids Sep 25 Nov 5 Nov 25 6

Even though there isn’t much activity at this time of year, the above table highlights several minor meteor showers that we can enjoy. This is the time for the more seasoned and avid meteor shower gazer, because the activity won’t be as dazzling as the Perseids or some of the other strong events during the year. Most notably commencing this month is the Southern Taurids Meteor Shower. The Southern Taurids will be responsible for most of the sporadic fireballs that we can witness between now until the end of November. Just remember that under any dark sky on any given day a person can see about five meteors if conditions are optimal.

I will be keeping you posted with all the latest meteor news and as always please comment on any of the blogs on this site, if you have questions.

So relax, enjoy and keep your head up!

-Meteor Mark

Sep 22

δ-Aurigids – The Last Meteor Shower of September

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Click the Image for Starry Night Software

The September Perseids meteor shower has ended on September 17. The next meteor shower started September 18 and will peak on September 29. This year will be no different than usual for the δ-Aurigids minor meteor shower (Delta Aurigids) as it is not very full of life. Viewers will see a few more than the usual one to five sporadic meteors per hour until the shower ends next month on October 10. This is the bad news; the good news is that October is the start of a more active meteor season where we can look forward to the Orionids, the highly anticipated Leonids and the sometimes-dazzling Geminids.

In the meantime I suggest bookmarking MeteorBlog and joining the newsletter. If you’ve enjoyed this blog, you can check out my other blog – Every Thursday Anecdote where I post other cool articles every Thursday. I will be starting the MeteorBlog newsletter in October and it will inform you of all the great Meteor Showers that are occurring throughout the year.

Your questions and comments are always welcome. Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

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Sep 15

Meteor Showers – Not Just for Meteors

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Check Out Some of the Meteor Geek T-Shirts

Check Out Some of the Meteor Geek T-Shirts

September is a sluggish time for meteor showers. So what does a meteor fan do while waiting for the next meteor shower? Have you ever thought about organizing a meteor shower viewing party? Meteor shower viewing can be enjoyable for people of all ages, it’s a great way to socialize with friends and stay up into the wee hours of the morning entertaining.

Unfortunately, meteor showers don’t always peak on weekends and as I’ve stated before they usually peak in the morning. But does this really matter when you’re spending time with friends or family? At MeteorBlog, we have a few regular visitors who share meteor shower viewing with their children or a few of you hang out in your backyard with the barbeque grill cooking hamburgers and pretending you’re watching meteors. Whatever you do while you “watch” meteors streak across the sky is fine by me. In my opinion it’s the simple things in life, like meteors, that make the world a super place.

Join the newsletter to be alerted of the next great meteor happening, visit our meteor shop for party gift ideas, keep your head up and most importantly spend a little time with someone you care about gazing up into the heavens searching for meteors.

- Meteor Mark

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Sep 08

September Perseids Minor Meteor Shower

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Meteor Shower

Meteor Shower

The September Perseids meteor shower is not to be confused with the stronger event that happened in August. Last year this meteor shower had decent outbursts, but this can’t be anticipated for this year. Meteor showers are very erratic so the best way to find out how lively they are is to observe. The September Perseids overlap the δ-Aurigids and are generally seen in the same area because the shower’s radiants are so close to each other. This shower will peak on September 9 in the morning hours where less than seven meteors per hour will be seen in the eastern sky near the constellation Perseus. Visual observation of this meteor shower will be hindered by a waning gibbous moon with three-quarters of the Moon illuminated through the peak. Light, either natural or man-made, is always a factor for viewing a meteor shower and because this event is not thought of as a major meteor shower there will probably be modest activity.

I take pleasure in searching for meteors in the sky and because there is extra activity, I will be gazing at the pre-dawn sky hoping to see some extra meteors. If you plan to look, don’t expect much. I hope you enjoyed this little anecdote.

Join the Meteor Blog newsletter and keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

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Sep 01

Peaking But No Major Streaking

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Auriga - The Charioteer

Auriga - The Charioteer

Since the α-Aurigids meteor shower was discovered there have been times where this shower has been very active especially the first night two German astronomers discovered it in 1935. Most of the time the α-Aurigids produces very little activity and this year is no different. The α-Aurigids meteor shower is produced by debris following the comet Kiess and that debris usually enters Earth’s atmosphere at the end of August. This year the expected peak is September 1st, but don’t expect to see tons of meteors streaking through the skies, this is only a minor meteor shower that will normally produce a maximum of five to nine meteors per hour. Usually, on any given night or morning meteor gazers can expect to see about five meteors per hour without the presence of a meteor shower so this adds a little more to your viewing chances.

Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Software PackThe α-Aurigids radiant is the constellation Auriga – The Charioteer located in the eastern sky above the constellation Orion and below Perseus so if you are going to see some extra meteors from this shower try looking east to the darkest part of the sky. There are also a few highlights in the eastern sky on September 1st Orion’s Betelgeuse, The Pleiades, Capella and the planet Mars.

Happy meteor gazing and star watching.

Bookmark the site, we have a few great meteor showers coming later this year. I will be making posts each week and answering questions and comments. In the meantime, keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

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Aug 19

Where are all the meteor showers?

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Buy Starry Night Software

With the Perseids Meteor Shower ending on August 24th I find myself anticipating other meteor showers later in the year. Unfortunately I had cloudy skies and only saw a few meteors.

Here are the meteor showers happening now. Please be advised that except for the Perseids, (not the September Perseids) the following are minor meteor showers that will produce mild activity and things don’t start picking up again until October.

  • Perseids active Jul 17 – Aug 24 and peaked Aug 12
  • κ-Cygnids active Aug 3 – 25 and peaks Aug 17
  • α-Aurigids active Aug 25 – Sep 8 and peaks Sep 1
  • September Perseids active Sep 5 – 17 and peaks Sep 9
  • δ-Aurigids active between Sep 18 – Oct 10 and peaks Sep 29

I will be posting every week and gearing up for what I feel will be the best meteor shower of the year, the Leonids. In the meantime bookmark the site, keep your head up and look out for the next show!

- Meteor Mark