Where to look for and identify the Quadrantids? Firstly, one should locate the Big Dipper using the diagram below. Quadrantids can be seen anywhere in the sky and if you see one in an area, you’re likely to see more in that spot, so keep your eyes transfixed to that location.

Where to Look

As I stated there is a very short period where the chances of tracking them visually is strong. This makes for a difficult viewing experience for those who don’t have the patience or time to spend on watching this event for a long period of time. In the morning hours of January 4th, weather permitting it will be virtually perfect for spotting the Quadrantids this year. As with most meteor showers they are best seen in the morning hours before daybreak.

What is the radiant and why Bootes?

The radiant, a region where the meteors will seem to emanate from is the constellation Bootes. This constellation was originally named Quadrans Muralis. In 1922, Quadrans Muralis was not added to the new list of eighty-eight modern constellations. The name was changed to Bootes, but the name of the meteor shower, the Quadrantids, remained the same.

The Quadrantids are a fascinating meteor shower for a couple of reasons. The first is because the majority of meteor showers are associated with a specific comet and second is that meteor showers get their name or radiant from the constellation where they seem to originate. These two “rules” do not apply to the Quadrantids Meteor Shower. The parent body of the Quadrantids is not a comet, it is a near-earth asteroid named 2003 EH1 and their radiant constellation name is Bootes. There has been speculation by many scientists that the event’s parent is a piece of the comet C/1490 Y1 that crumbled almost 500 years ago. It was only in 2003 that the origin of the Quadrantids was known. A group of scientists designed a mathematical equation that turned their attention to the acknowledged source, the asteroid 2003 EH1.

In 2009, this meteor shower was one of the more appealing meteor showers that I viewed but it only lasted for a short period of time. In 2010 and 2011, it was very weak and threatened by a glowing moon coupled with extremely cold weather in the morning when I observed. This year I hope it will deliver greater meteor activity like it did in 2009 and with warmer temperatures. The best thing that can contribute to a worthwhile showing will be the fact that there will be no moon in the sky. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

If you would like to take a look at this meteor shower, I suggest finding a safe, dark area and locate the constellation Bootes in the morning of January 4th. This year the Quadrantids will be competing with moonlight because of the Waxing Gibbous Moon phase. This means viewers will see less meteors. If this shower is as strong as it was in 2009, it will undoubtedly be worth a look. In 2009, I witnessed about 1 to 3 meteors a minute or about 80 to 120 an hour. This year I feel it will probably not be the same, however I make no guarantee that it will be good nor bad as the conditions and meteoroids streams are always unpredictable and changeable.

Your questions and comments are welcome. If you enjoyed my blog and found this information useful, why not buy me a cup of coffee? I can use them during the morning on January 4th while watching the Quadrantids!

Keep your head up.

- Meteor Mark
Quadrantids Meteor Shower January 2012

Leonids Fireball Image Credit by George Varros NASA

There are three meteor showers starting in November. Of the three meteor showers; two will peak and the other will be at its maximum in December. The meteor showers of November are the Leonids, the α-Monocerotids and the Phoenicids.  There are two other meteor showers that have been active for months coming to an end, the minor meteor showers, the Southern and Northern Taurids.

The Leonids Meteor Shower is the strongest meteor shower of November and will produce approximately twenty visible meteors per hour during its maximum in the morning hours of November 18th. This event starts November 6th and is caused by a comet named 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This comet was very close to Earth in 1998 and subsequently thereafter produced a huge meteor storm in 2001. These events were unexpected and the Leonids for the most part can be very unpredictable.

What can you expect this year from the Leonids?

One can expect the moon to be a factor. The moon will be in its last quarter phase on November 18th and will be shedding some light into the sky. Light is a major inhibitor of meteor showers as it causes light pollution, which makes it more difficult to spot meteors. This year scientists are claiming that most of the particles entering the Earth’s atmosphere will be smaller than usual. I would love to tell you that this meteor shower is going to be as grand as the one that occurred in 2001, but I have to tell you to keep your expectations low.

When to look?

We should be observing this meteor shower whenever we can. There is nothing wrong with gazing at the skies in search of meteors. But believe me I know most of you have busy lives. I always get asked, “When is the best time to look?” So here’s your answer. Look in the morning hours of November 18th and use the illustration below to locate the constellation Leo.

Leonids Meteor Shower - Use the Big Dipper to Locate the Constellation Leo

The two other smaller meteor showers:

α-Monocerotids starts on November 15th and will have its greatest activity on November 22nd and the Phoenicids will start at the end of the month and will have its peak December 6th. Both of these showers are considered minor and will most likely produce little activity. I’d like to note that it is very difficult to predict when an outburst will occur, so the more seasoned viewer who has time to spend outdoors may spot some greater activity.

Quick Schedule:

I will be out watching the shower several times during the month and I welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to use the search button in the top right corner. So with no further ado, I’m off to gaze at some meteors, in the meantime I’ll be keeping my head up, will you?

Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

The Orionids Meteor Shower has already started to produce activity in the morning skies around the northern hemisphere. It started October 2nd and will be active until early November. The Orionids has a few days before and after the peak that are more active than other days. This is a unique feature called a “submaxima”. Viewers can anticipate the strongest activity to take place in the morning of October 21st, but the period of days that lead up to the peak and after the peak called “submaxima activity” means that strong outbursts may occur between October 18th and October 24th at any time. So why not have a look as soon as you can? Meteor shower outbursts are nearly impossible to predict.

Orionids Meteor Shower Radiant

As mentioned earlier, Orionids enter the Earth’s atmosphere at 90,000+ miles per hour which compared to other meteor showers is consider medium speeds. The Orionids seem to originate from the constellation Orion near the red/orange star named Betelgeuse. This year, the Moon will create a medium amount of light pollution because it will be coming off a last quarter phase. Not only is the Moon a factor, but also man-made sources of light can make it difficult to view this event. Under perfect low-light conditions, viewers may see up to one meteor every three minutes. However, based on the circumstances I’ve discussed, I don’t think this will be the case this year. I do believe the meteor shower is worth observing and viewing for at least thirty minutes to an hour in mornings before and after the peak, October 21st.

To best view this meteor shower, one must go to a safe dark place in the morning and look toward the constellation Orion. The meteors can and will streak anywhere in the sky but will seem to originate from Orion. Orion, the meteor shower’s radiant is where they get their name from. Almost all meteor showers are named after their constellation or radiant, which is the point in the sky where they seem to originate. In May, Halley’s Comet is also responsible for another meteor shower called the Eta-Aquariids where the dust hits Earth at a different angle and the point of entry seems to come from the constellation Aquarius, hence we get the Eta-Aquariids.

The reason why I get so excited about this meteor shower is because it is the first of three meteor showers that are worth looking at before the end of the year. It is also nice to go outside and enjoy clear cool nights watching the stars after a lull in meteor shower activity since early August. The next meteor showers of interest are the Leonids in November and the Geminids of December.

As always, if you’ve enjoyed my writing and the information that I provide on this site, please use the “A Coffee for Meteor Mark” section. Believe me, I really need the coffee to keep me up in the morning whilst observing meteor showers. Please join our mailing list, bookmark the site and keep your head up.

- Meteor Mark

So now that you have the information, I’m sure you’re wondering when and where do I look? If you live in the Americas unfortunately you’re not going to see many meteors because the proposed peak will be during the daytime for you. But this doesn’t mean you should just give up. I suggest three viewing sessions for USA residents and they are: October 8th between 12:01am and dawn, the darkest point of early evening say around 6:00pm onward to midnight and then final October 9th from 12:01am until dawn.

Draconids Meteor Shower Radiant

Now if you live in Europe, the best proposed activity will be on October 8th between 17:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT. You can also follow the above times that I suggested for the Americas. This meteor shower has the chance to be truly amazing. I have to warn you, the moon will be very bright and usually this means it will be hard to see these meteors especially because they are relatively faint and small.

If you would like to learn a little more about the Draconids, please take a look at the blog I did in 2009 (Draconids Information).  It contains more information about meteor storm activity and the source and cause of the Draconids Meteor Shower.  If you’re planning on going outside and having a look, keep warm, have fun and keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

I’ve had a few questions on the site as I always do about the best time to view the Perseids this year. I always feel a little stressed over making promises about meteor showers because I don’t want anyone to miss the prime-time action. Since these events remain one of the most difficult astronomical occurrences to predict in science today, it is with guarded trepidation that I will state the best viewing times for this years Perseids Meteor Shower as follows:

The first “best” time to get out there and look will be between 12:01 AM and dawn on August 12th and the second even better time will be between August 12th 18:00 Universal Time and August 13th 07:00 Universal Time.

Perseids Meteor Shower Radiant

I find that the times leading up to the peak in the morning are always stronger. For some of you the peak times will occur when it is light outside, so my best advice is to look in the morning of August 12th, a few hours before dawn and then again in the evening of August 12th into the morning of August 13th. There are some good things going for viewing the Perseids Meteor Shower in the morning of August 12th. One in particular is that the Constellation Perseus (the radiant located in the northeast for most of us) will be at it’s highest in the sky just before dawn and the moon will be a small crescent shape. The best part about viewing in the morning of August 12th is that, if for some reason, you don’t see as many meteors as you would like, you’ll have a another chance later in the evening to have a second go round at viewing.

Believe it or not Perseids meteors are active and visible in the sky right now through August 24th. The meteor shower will be at it’s strongest between August 11th until August 13th, so these are the best times to view this shower. I’m hoping for a great display this year and I’m urging everyone to get out and view the Perseids in their glory! If you like this blog and you want to buy me a cup of coffee to keep me awake while watching meteors you can do so by using the “A Coffee for Meteor Mark” section on the site that is located on the right underneath the newsletter sign up box.

In the meantime, keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark
Perseids Meteor Shower August 2011

Geminids Meteor Shower

The Geminids Meteor Shower gets its name from the constellation from where it seems to originate. This is similar to other meteor showers. However unlike most meteor showers, the source of the Geminids Meteor Shower event is not a comet. This makes it unique. In fact, the dust particles or meteoroids that bombard Earth each year at this time are from a completely different celestial being. Besides the sheer magnitude and reliability of this meteor shower each year, this distinguishing factor is one of my favorite aspects about this event.

So what causes the Geminids Meteor Shower if it is not a comet? The Geminids is a distinctive meteor shower because it is connected to an asteroid called “3200 Phaethon”. There is some dispute amongst astronomers over whether or not 3200 Phaethon is a comet in its final stages of life or simply an asteroid. Every December for hundreds and possibly thousands of years, the 3200 Phaethon has caused the Geminids Meteor Shower. Since the early beginnings of the discovery of this meteor shower, over 150 years ago, data has indicated that it is getting stronger and stronger every year.

In 2010, the Geminids Meteor Shower starts December 7th and continues until December 17th. I’m hoping that his meteor shower will be as good as last year. To optimize your chances of seeing a great display in the sky, aim to start viewing in the early morning hours before dawn. Meteors will appear anywhere in the sky but will emerge from their radiant within the constellation Gemini and so the name, Geminids. In the morning hours after midnight on December 14th, viewers will be treated to the shower’s strongest display under an a first quarter Moon phase with about 50% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated. I would describe Geminids meteors as, “exactly what one would think a meteor shower should look like”, fast with sparkly white streaks of light shooting across the sky. It’s no wonder while viewing this meteor shower over the years that they have garnered the nickname “shooting stars”. A most gloriously fitting description.

Geminids - Where to Look

The Geminids Meteor Shower will peak on December 14th and under clear skies it could produce up to 120 meteors per hour. Find a safe dark place and if you’re in a cold weather area dress warmly. Locate the constellation Gemini and stare at an area around it. Be patient but stay vigilant because when the bursts of meteors spew forth, it seems to happen in spurts. For example, one meteor could be followed by three, and then a gap and then a minute may go by before you may see any more. Even though the Geminids could be the strongest meteor shower of the year, their behavior is still capricious and sporadic. I suggest dedicating a two-hour period to watch after midnight into the morning before dawn. This will help you account for and triumph over the whimsical and unpredictable nature of meteor showers like this one.

I can’t guarantee that you’ll see anything and recommend that you read my glossary on this site as well as the meteor shower viewing page that are both located in the upper right hand corner for more viewing tips. You may want to browse around and study other articles and the comments from other meteor shower enthusiasts just like you. By doing this, you’ll get a sense for how to view meteors and you’ll feel like a pro in no time! If you’ve enjoyed my blog and liked reading my articles, please consider buying a meteor shirt or use the “A Coffee for Meteor Mark” section on the right hand side of the page. I will need some freshly brewed coffee for the morning hours whilst watching Geminid meteors!

Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

I will be writing some more blog posts about the Geminids Meteor Shower as well as giving you some meteor facts about all the meteor showers this month. In the meantime, mark your calendar, bookmark this site and keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

Leonids Fireball Image Credit by George Varros NASA

The Leonids Meteor Shower is the strongest meteor shower in November. The Leonids’ parent comet, 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, came closest to Earth in 1998 and produced some massive meteor showers that were unpredicted in 2001. In recent times, the Leonids activity has been erratic of late. This year, I believe there will be moderate activity during the peak, which occurs on November 17th. However, my colleagues predict that, in 2010 it is unknown whether there will be more action than usual. Therefore I am urging viewers to keep their expectations low, but still take the time to have a few viewing sessions before and after the peak. During the peak viewers might see one meteor every three minutes or a Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR) of twenty or more meteors per hour. Keep in mind that this viewing rate is under perfect sighting conditions.

For those of you who have been with me since I started Meteor Blog in 2008, you know I try to answer as many comments as I can. I’m flattered by all of the comments I receive on this meteor site and I enjoy reading them all, so please keep them coming. Since my first meteor inspired article, the most common question I am asked, is:

When is the best time to look?

The best time to view the Leonids, as is the case with most meteor showers, will vary depending on where you are in the world. I can assure you that meteor showers are one of the hardest astronomical events to predict, even for the most experienced astronomers and scientists. Having stated that, I will try to give all of you some advice for optimising your chances for seeing the most meteors in the sky near you. I find that the majority of people think meteor showers are events that take place at night, however they are usually best seen in the morning. People tend to equate night with darkness and therefore they assume that it would be more likely to see more meteors before midnight. This is a common fallacy. As with the majority of these celestial events, this year’s Leonids Shower is best seen in the morning of November 17th, before dawn. For some of you the Moon will have set so it won’t add any unwanted light in the sky. When looking for meteors, the Moon plays a big role in your viewing session as its luminescence can encroach upon your viewing range. The Moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase on November 17th and more than 85% illuminated. This condition will degrade your viewing experience, however the Moon does set in the early morning hours creating less light in the sky resulting in more chances to see meteors.

Where to Look?

Meteors can be seen anywhere in the sky, so positioning yourself in a spot where you can view the constellation Leo as well as a large portion of the sky is optimal. The key to viewing meteors is to pick a spot in the sky and look at it for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time with a viewing session no shorter than an hour. Once you have found your spot in the sky, fix your eyes to it as meteors streak across the sky quickly. Looking around rather than focusing on a segment of the sky will greatly degrade your chances of seeing a shooting star. You will notice that meteors trace backwards towards the constellation of Leo and/or seem to originate from a point in the sky called the radiant.

How do I find the radiant, Leo?

Leonids are named after their radiant, the constellation Leo. I like to use a familiar constellation to aid in finding Leo. Most of you know the Big Dipper (The Plough); so let’s use it to find the Leonids Meteor Shower radiant. Please use the picture below to help you find Leo. Keep in mind that your sky will look slightly different than the image depending on your location, but with a little patience you will be able to figure out a general area in which to track meteors. You don’t have to be too precise to see a meteor. You just have to be committed to spending some time staring at the same point in the sky. Find a safe, dark place to observe and bundle up in lots of layers, if you’re in area that gets cold.

Leonids Meteor Shower - Use the Big Dipper to Locate the Constellation Leo

You may want to review the article I wrote a few years ago regarding the famous Leonids Meteor Swarm of 1833 and some of the other articles that I’ve written by checking the links below.

Leonids Meteor Swarm
Leonids Meteor Shower 2009
Starting to Roar
Meteor Shower Viewing Tips
Meteor Glossary and Terms

I hope that we see some activity from the Leonids this year. I’m not expecting it to be a huge meteor shower, but it’s definitely worth taking a look. If you’ve enjoyed the article, please join the mailing list, bookmark the site and consider buying me a cup of coffee by using the “A Coffee for Meteor Mark” section on the right of this page. I’ll need them whilst I’m up early searching the skies for meteors.

Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

I wanted to put this quick meteor shower schedule up on the site as soon as possible. I will be flying to Europe on November 1st and will be viewing all of this month’s meteor showers, especially the Leonids, from an observatory in the southwest of England. Please note that the Leonids will be strongest in the morning of November 17th.

I promise to post more about the Leonids on the site when I land safely in England.  In the meantime keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark
P.S. I hear the have good coffee where I’m going…

2010 Moon Phase is a Negative

The Orionids Meteor Shower has been occurring each year consistently in October. Every year the dust particles and debris of Halley’s Comet (IP/Halley) enter the Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of 90,000+ miles per hour. Even though Halley’s Comet is in orbit around the Sun and was closest to Earth in 1986 on its 75-76 year orbit the remnants still remain in its path. The Earth crosses through this dusty path each year and this trail of debris consistently produces the Orionids Meteor Shower.

Orionids Meteor Shower Radiant

The Orionids Meteor Shower has already started to produce activity in the morning skies around the northern hemisphere. It started October 2nd and will be active until early November. The Orionids has a few days before and after the peak that are more active than other days.  This is a unique feature called a “submaxima”. Viewers can anticipate the strongest activity to take place in the morning of October 21st, but the period of days that lead up to the peak and after the peak called “submaxima activity” means that strong outbursts may occur between October 18th and October 24th at any time.  So why not have a look as soon as you can?  Meteor shower outbursts are nearly impossible to predict.

As mentioned earlier, Orionids enter the Earth’s atmosphere at 90,000+ miles per hour which compared to other meteor showers is consider medium speeds. The Orionids seem to originate from the constellation Orion near the red/orange star named Betelgeuse. This year, the Moon will create a lot of extra light pollution because it will be almost full. Not only is the Moon a factor, but also man-made sources of light can make it difficult to view this event. Under perfect low-light conditions, viewers may see up to one meteor every two minutes. However, based on the circumstances I’ve discussed, I don’t think this will be the case this year.  I do believe the meteor shower is worth observing and viewing for at least thirty minutes to an hour in mornings before and after the peak, October 21st.

To best view this meteor shower, one must go to a safe dark place in the morning and look toward the constellation Orion. The meteors can and will streak anywhere in the sky but will seem to originate from Orion. Orion, the meteor shower’s radiant is where they get their name from. Almost all meteor showers are named after their constellation or radiant, which is the point in the sky where they seem to originate. In May, Halley’s Comet is also responsible for another meteor shower called the Eta-Aquariids where the dust hits Earth at a different angle and the point of entry seems to come from the constellation Aquarius, hence we get the Eta-Aquariids.

The reason why I get so excited about this meteor shower is because it is the first of three meteor showers that are worth looking at before the end of the year. It is also nice to go outside and enjoy clear cool nights watching the stars after a lull in meteor shower activity since early August. The next meteor showers of interest are the Leonids in November and the Geminids of December.

As always, if you’ve enjoyed my writing and the information that I provide on this site, please use the “A Coffee for Meteor Mark” section.  Believe me, I really need the coffee to keep me up in the morning whilst observing meteor showers. Please join our mailing list, bookmark the site and keep your head up.

- Meteor Mark

Draco the Dragon

The Draconids Meteor Shower of October is one of my favorite meteor showers of the year. The main reason and possibly a little comical I’m sure, is that I really like the name, Draconids; I suppose it might remind me of being a kid. I think most kids like dragons so the natural progression as an adult is to like the constellation Draco the Dragon, which I feel is far more mature. Okay, so now for some more serious reasons as to why I find this meteor shower so appealing; because when you spot one in the sky they seem to be a foggy, muddy, muggy yellow color. Draconid meteors lumber slowly across the sky. The meteor shower itself has an awesome history and even two names.

The Draconids despite being a minor meteor shower in recent years occasionally has some breathtaking outbursts. I don’t like to promise too much when it comes to viewing any meteor shower, but in 1933 the Draconids were amazing. They were responsible for one of the most prolific meteor storms in history where about 6,000 meteors per hour were seen for a period of about nine hours. I can promise that this year will not produce those kinds of results, however the shower’s peak will be occurring on October 8th under a waxing crescent moon phase and only 1% of the Moon will be illuminated. This means less light will be in the sky and that means we’ll have a chance to see more meteors.

Where can you look to see Draconids? The answer is anywhere really, but you’ll have a better chance if you locate the meteor shower’s radiant, which is Draco. Meteor gazers in the northern hemisphere can use the illustration below to locate Draco by using the Big Dipper as a point of reference.

Where Does One Look? Draconids Meteor Shower

The constellation Draco is where Draconids meteors will seem to come from. Meteor Showers are usually named after their radiant, hence we get Draconids, nevertheless some scientists call the Draconids “Giacobinids” which is derived from the name of the astronomer who discovered the comet in charge of creating the dust trails and meteoroids that enter our atmosphere each year at this time to make this event happen. The comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner was discovered in 1900 by Giacobini and then later was observed by Ernst Zinner in 1913. Both their research and mathematical calculations helped determine that this comet was the source of the Draconids.

The Draconids will start on October 6th and will continue until October 10th with the peak date (or maxima) on October 8th. Meteor shower viewers shouldn’t expect much from this event, but you never know when it comes to shooting stars, they’re really hard to predict. Because the phase of the Moon will not produce a lot of extra light and the possibility of outbursts for any meteor shower, one should look after midnight on Friday morning October 8th, not Friday night or Saturday morning.

Here is the 2010 October Meteor Shower Schedule

I’ve added the Southern and Northern Taurids to the schedule because they are considered a constant stream of meteors during September, October and November. The Taurids are thought to account for a major part of the sporadic meteors that we witness. I will be blogging about the Taurids Meteor Shower later in the month, as they are known for cool pumpkin-colored slow moving fireballs.

Keep your head up.

- Meteor Mark

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

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

Meteor Shower

The Perseids Meteor Shower is still active until August 24th. Interestingly, when I was observing the Perseids I noticed a few meteors that didn’t seem to match the normal path of Perseids or their regular description. After further investigation I believe that I witnessed a few meteors from the South Aquariids that peaked in July and ends August 19th. However, after even a more in depth review I’m still scratching my head thinking did I see meteors from the minor meteor shower the Kappa Cygnids?

The Kappa Cygnids (κ-Cygnids) meteor shower started August 3rd and will continue to be active until August 25th along side the Perseids. The peak date for the κ-Cygnids where activity will be very minimal occurs on August 18th. Viewers can expect about three to four extra meteors an hour during the peak. Which obviously isn’t much.

I suggest that if you do plan to observe meteor shower activity for the rest of the August you should try to determine whether you have seen a straggling Perseid meteor or a κ-Cygnid Meteor. The κ-Cygnids are described as being a light blue to white in color where the Perseids are somewhat orangey to yellow and are much faster. κ-Cygnids meteors will seem to come from the constellation Cygnus. The κ-Cygnids Meteor Shower is also more likely to produce fireballs than the Perseids but the κ-Cygnids are a much weaker meteor shower so don’t expect too much from it.

Now I’m sure I saw a κ-Cygnid meteor just last night. Oh! The drama! Keep visiting the site and join the mailing list. I update this blog frequently and will certainly let you know when the next meteor shower will occur.

Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

Perseids Meteor Shower Radiant

Right now, the Earth is passing through fragments and dust trails created by the Comet Swift-Tuttle and this means the Perseids Meteor Shower has started and will be getting stronger each day until its peak on August 12th. Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell-Tuttle discovered the Swift-Tuttle Comet in July of 1862. The comet passed by Earth in 1992 and will not return again until 2126, however the dust that follows this comet creates a dependable annual meteor shower, the Perseids.

The Perseids is named after constellation Perseus because meteors seem to spread out from an area surrounding the constellation, this is called the radiant. The Perseids Meteor Shower is one of the world’s most famous astronomical summertime events and is called “Ole Reliable” because the Perseids always seems to be an enjoyable strong August meteor shower. The reason for its popularity is that people living in the northern hemisphere are usually treated to warmer weather which makes viewing much more enjoyable. Trust me, I know from years of experience and have been known to stand out in the freezing cold for hours (warm weather is better).

The Perseids Meteor Shower will peak in the morning of August 12 where meteors can be seen anywhere in the sky. The main thing to viewing any meteor shower is to find a safe, dark place away from man-made lights and lean back in a relaxing position looking toward the darkest part of the sky. Sometimes the Moon can be a hindrance, but this year the Moon will not be shedding much light, as during the peak it will be a waxing crescent Moon phase, so this means more visible meteors.

As a general rule for this meteor shower I say look to the northeast, but no one ever really knows where meteors will appear. I’d like to give you an exact time to view the shower, but meteor shower observation still remains one of the most complicated astronomical events to foresee, so having said that, try observing in the late evening of August 11th into the early morning of August 12th.  Meteor showers are misunderstood, a lot of people think they are nighttime events, they’re actually better seen closer to dawn and I’ve heard this year some scientists believe that the Perseids could produce up to 100 or more meteors per hour so there will be no lack of chances to see meteors skipping across the sky.

The Perseids Meteor Shower consists of meteoroids mostly as small as a grain of sand but occasionally softball size meteoroids will create large fireballs. I truly don’t know what to expect and for me that’s part of the excitement. Additionally, Perseids meteors enter the Earth’s atmosphere at amazingly fast speeds as high as 133,000 mile per hour and even though most are the size of a grain of sand you’ll still see them glowing and whizzing through the air. Perseids are not usually known for massive fireballs, but anything is possible.

Your questions and comments are always welcome. Please bookmark the site, join the mailing list and if you have enjoyed my articles please consider buying me a cup of coffee to keep me alert for meteor shower viewing in the morning!

Keep your head up!

- Meteor Mark

Perseids Meteor Shower Radiant

The Perseids Meteor Shower could be one of the best meteor showers of the year. Every year in August the Perseids ignite the air and create spectacular streaks of light all across the morning and night skies. One of the biggest problems when viewing a meteor shower is man-made light or light pollution. Our city lights do not only cause light in our skies, the Moon can cause it too. So how will the Moon affect the Perseids Meteor Shower? Well, I have good news; very little light from the Moon will be shed because the phase of the Moon on the 12th of August during the peak of the Perseids Meteor Shower will be a waxing crescent phase with just about 10% of the Moon illuminated! This means meteor gazers will be able to see more meteors than usual. Shooting stars from the Perseids will hopefully be skipping through the sky at about the rate of one or two a minute!

Don’t get me wrong, I always enjoy seeing the Moon in the sky, but on this occasion I’m glad it won’t be stealing the show. Visit this site for a few more blogs and posts leading up to the peak of the Perseids Meteor Shower and if you’ve enjoyed my articles on this blog, feel free to buy me a cup of coffee, as I will need a few to stay sharp, awake and observe all the meteors in the night and morning skies. In the meantime bookmark the site, join the mailing list and keep your head up.

- Meteor Mark