How to watch tonight’s stunning Quadrantids meteor shower

Orionids typically produce about 20 to 25 meteors per hour during their peak, and are known to be particularly bright, and many of the meteors are fireballs. Like Eta Aquarius, Orionids are also debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.

The orionids appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises around 11pm local time and is highest in the sky just before dawn.

The new moon falls on the night of October 21-22, and the surrounding week the moon will set before midnight, so you’ll have perfect viewing conditions to see this meteor shower.

Leonid (November-December)

Leonids are active from approximately November 3 to December 2. It has a sharp peak, producing the largest number of meteors overnight from November 16 to November 17, according to the American Meteor Society. However, other organizations expect this shower to reach its peak From November 17th to November 18th. During Leonid peak, you can expect to see about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies.

Although leonides produce fewer meteors than many other major meteor showers, they are known for Producing fast-moving, bright fireball meteors.

Leonid Peak reaches its peak just before the new moon, so on the morning of November 18, the moon will be fair 6 percent lit In the eastern United States, it will only rise by approx 5 am On November 17, you will have plenty of time to see this meteor shower under ideal viewing conditions.

Leonid’s radiant is the constellation Leo, which rises around midnight local time and is highest in the sky at dawn.

Gemini (December)

Geminis are active from approximately December 4 to 17, and peak overnight from December 13 to 14. It has a sharp peak, so the night of the 13th is the best time to observe the sky.

The Geminids are some of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year: In addition to boasting as many as 120 or even 150 meteors per hour during their peak, these meteor showers are also the brightest and most colorful of the year.

Geminid meteors are bright, slow-moving meteors that often have yellow hues, but can be a range of other colors, including green, blue, white, red or orange. Unlike most meteors, which are produced by comet debris, Geminid meteors are the remains of an asteroid.

The night of Gemini’s peak, its radiant, the constellation Gemini, will be above the horizon all night and will reach its highest point around 2 a.m. local time, so meteors will be visible almost all night.

On the same night, the moon will be about to rise 32 percent lit It will rise around 1:30 am In the eastern United States, so if you view this shower shortly after midnight, moonlight will not interfere with your viewing experience.

Orchids (December)

The Ursids are active from approximately December 17 to 26, peaking in the early morning hours of December 22. These meteor showers are less active than others, usually producing about 10 meteors per hour; However, viewing conditions will be ideal for sky viewing. The moon will set around 6 pm in the eastern United States on the 21st, so moonlight will not interfere with this meteor shower.

Although the Ursids typically produce the largest number of meteors just before dawn, when their radiant, the Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is highest in the sky, you’ll be able to see meteors all night during the peak of this shower. In northern latitudes, the Ursids are above the horizon all night.