All about meteors
If you’ve already won a meteorite in one of my giveaways, it will be on the way to you in the next few weeks. For now, content yourself with this information about this coveted Space Schmutz™.
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BEST PREDICTED METEOR SHOWERS
Geminid - December Every Year
The Geminid meteor shower, showing up during cold nights, is usually the best one of the year. With upwards of 100 meteors per hour, this shower is sure to sparkle with radiance.
This year’s Geminid might be a bit dampened by the nearly full Moon, but spectators could still marvel at the brightest meteors in the night sky.
The peak maximum of the meteor shower is predicted to be at 9 pm on December 13th, which is 5 pm Eastern Standard Time.
The Geminid meteors come from 3200 Phaethon, an asteroid discovered in 1983 that circles the earth every 3.3 years. It’s particles are denser than typical shower meteors.
Perseid Meteor Shower - August Every Year
As summer’s warmth envelops us, it’s time for the annual celestial delight: the Perseid meteor shower. This year promises a particularly stunning display, with peak activity occurring late TONIGHT in the early morning of Tuesday, August 13th.
The Perseids, originating from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, can be seen streaking across the sky from the constellation Perseus in the northeast.
The shower runs from mid-July to late August, but the best viewing will be during the peak, where skilled observers in dark locations might see up to 100 meteors per hour. For most of us dealing with light pollution, expect around 30-40 meteors per hour, which is amazing.
Lyrids Meteor Shower - April Every Year
The annual Lyrid meteor shower takes its name from the Lyra constellation, which is associated with the ancient harp. Although not as spectacular as the summer Perseids and more akin to a gentle April rain, the Lyrids consistently brighten the early spring sky each year. After the last major shower, the Quadrantids, in early January, stargazers eagerly anticipate the Lyrids’ arrival.
Lyrid meteors originate from Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1) as it completes its roughly 415-year orbit around the Sun. The fragments create a debris trail along the comet’s path that Earth intersects during the last two weeks of April. The densest part of this stream is typically visible around April 22nd.
Quadrantids Meteor Shower - April Every Year
The Quadrantid’s shower peak last about 6 hours. This 2024, the Quadrantid occured last January 4 at around 4 am EST.
The meteors of the Quadrantid come from Asteroid 196256. It is not an active comet but rather an “extinct comet” that no longer has any ice to evaporate.
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