What are Meteors (Shooting Stars)
Shooting stars (correctly known as Meteors) are space dust and very small pieces of rock that burn up as they enter the earth’s atmosphere and streak across the sky at great speed. These meteoroids come from comets and asteroids which are differing sized pieces of space rock that orbit the sun between the planets and are visible both in the northern and southern hemispheres at approximately the same time each year.
When is the best time to see them.
Most meteor showers are best viewed between midnight and dawn unless otherwise indicated below. It is best to sit quietly in the dark for at least 5-10 minutes to let your eyes get accustomed to the dark before starting to watch. The meteors will usually appear high In the sky radiating from whichever constellation they are associated with but can appear anywhere in the sky. (See the specifics below.)
What do you need.
Nothing except clear dark skies with as little light pollution as possible. It is best to view meteor showers with the naked eye which is quicker to notice things than anything else. Wrapping up warm and making sure you stay warm, and cosy will also make sure you enjoy the experience. I remember one year making snow angels on the top of the Grand Canyon whilst watching the Geminids.
Angel Zikiel is the Guardian Angel of Meteors and Asteroids and can help you gain sudden insights and to bring in new ideas. To invoke Archangel Zikiel speak his name three times and ask him what you wish to know.
Meteor showers throughout the year.
Quadrantids 28th December to 12th January peaking on 3-4th
In the right conditions, the Quadrantids are one of the best meteor showers of the year. At their peak they feature an average of 110 bluish or yellowish-white meteors with fine trains per hour. The Quadrantids’ peak is quite short, lasting from about midnight to dawn, but the number of meteors makes it well worthwhile. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1. This was discovered in 2003. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes.
In 2023 there will be an almost full moon so only the brightest meteors will be visible.
Lyrids 17th – 28th April peaking on 22-23rd
The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861.These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. It can be viewed in both the southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere where it is more active and will be seen high in the sky. Sometimes the Lyrids produce surges of up to 100 meteors per hour. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
This year in 2023 the moon is young and sets early so viewing should be particularly good this year.
Eta Aquarids 19th April – 28th May with the height on 6th May.
The Eta Aquarids, as all meteor showers, runs annually and is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere high in the sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour and will be seen closer to the horizon. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has known and observed since ancient times. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
In 2023 there is also a full moon so only the very brightest will be seen.
The Alpha Capricornids 3rd July to 15th August and peak on 30th July.
This is not a prolific shower but they are often very bright and look more like fireballs. They are called the Alpha Capricornids because they seem to radiate from the constellation of Capricorn. However, they are actually caused by debris left behind by the comet 169P/NEAT. Astronomers estimate that the shower was created between 3,500 to 5,000 years ago, when half the comet disintegrated into dust. They often appear as slow yellow fireballs.
2023 a nearly full moon will make this shower difficult to see but not impossible because they are larger than most.
Delta Aquariids 12th July to 23rd August also peak on 30th July
The Delta Aquariids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It gets its name because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation of Aquarius but can appear anywhere in the sky. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht.
2023 a nearly full moon will make this shower very difficult to see as they are not that bright.
Perseids 17th July – 24th August peaking on 12-13th August
The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak on 11-13th August. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright, fast meteors, many with trails.. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky. Look to the northeast after midnight
In 2023, we only have a 10% moon so the this should be a really good show
Draconids 6th – 10th October peaking on 8-9th
The Draconids are not the biggest show of the year, but they do begin the busiest season for meteor showers after which a shower is visible every one to two weeks until the Quadrantids in the near year. It produces approximately
10 meteors per hour from the dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky. The Draconids is an unusual shower in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other showers.
In 2023, the peak will be close to the New Moon, so viewing should be exceptional.
Orionids 2nd October – 7th November peaking on 12-22nd October
The Orionids are named after the most recognizable constellation in the sky, Orion, from which these meteors seem to radiate some of the fastest and brightest shooting stars. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times.
In 2023, the Moon will be close to the first quarter but it sets around midnight, so it should be a good show as the sky darkens.
The Taurids 10th September to 10th December in both hemispheres
In the Southern Hemisphere The Taurids run from 10th September to 20th November peaking on 10-11th October and
In the Northern Hemisphere from 20th October to 10th of December peaking on 12/13 November.
This a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 slow meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Leonids 6th – 30th November peaking on 17-18th November
The Leonids is an average shower, producing an average of up to 15 bright, fast meteors with a fine train, per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
In 2023, we will have a 23% Moon but it will be setting before midnight, leaving dark skies for a good show.
Geminids 4th – 20th December peaking on 14-15th
The Geminids is the king of meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multi-colored meteors per hour at its peak. (65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green.) It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky
In 2023, the peak is near the New Moon so it will be a GREAT year for the Geminids.
Ursids 17th – 26th December peaking on 22-23rd
The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790.. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
In 2023 we will have a ¾ moon and therefore a fair amount of light pollution but we should be able to see the brightest meteors.