Remember how all the major meteor showers in late 2011 were drowned in bright moonlight? It was fun to see meteors streaking along in the moonlight, but … alright, already. Let’s have a moonless meteor night! In fact, the next major meteor shower in 2012 – the Lyrid shower in April – will be virtually moon-free. Mark your calendar for the best night – the evening of April 21 until dawn April 22, 2012. The nights before and after might also feature some Lyrid meteors.
Image Credit: Jimmy Westlake
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April 22, 2012 Lyrids
The Lyrid meteors – April’s “shooting stars” – tend to be bright and often leave trails. About 10-20 meteors per hour at peak can be expected. Plus, the Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring the rate up to 100 per hour. Those rare outbursts are not easy to predict, but they’re one of the reasons the tantalizing Lyrids are worth checking out. The radiant for this shower is in the constellation Lyra, which rises in the northeast at about 10 p.m. Fortunately, in 2012, the new moon guarantees a dark sky in the late night and morning hours, the best time to watch the Lyrid shower. As a general rule, the greatest number of Lyrid meteors fall in the dark hours before dawn. The optimal night will probably be from late night April 21 until dawn April 22, though the night before or after (April 21/22 and April 22/23) may also offer a sprinkling of Lyrid meteors. With no moon to obscure this year’s display, we are assured of dark skies for the 2012 Lyrid meteor shower!
May 5 and 6, 2012 Eta Aquarids
This shower has a relatively broad maximum but is expected to show the greatest number of meteors before dawn on May 5 or 6. Unfortunately, the closest and largest full moon of the year will be out all night long, leaving no dark sky for this year’s Eta Aquarid show. But die-hard meteor enthusiasts will be watching anyway, to see how many Lyrids can be seen in a moonlit sky. At northerly latitudes – like in the northern states and Canada – the meteor numbers are few and far between. In the southern half of the US, 10 to 20 meteors per hour may be visible in a dark sky. Farther south – like in the Southern Hemisphere – the meteor numbers increase dramatically, perhaps two to three times more Eta Aquarid meteors streaking the southern skies. For the most part, this is a predawn shower. The radiant for this shower appears in the east-southeast at about 4 a.m. and the hour or two before dawn offers the most meteors. The broad peak to this shower means that some meteors may fly in the dark hour before dawn for a few days before and after the predicted optimal date. Although the most meteors will probably rain down on May 5 or 6 before dawn, the full moon is sure to wash away all but the brightest Eta Aquarid meteors.
July 28 and 29, 2012 Delta Aquarids
Like the Eta Aquarids, this shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, and the tropical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the waxing gibbous moon won’t set till after midnight, the hours between moonset and dawn will probably offer the most Delta Aquarid meteors. (Click here to know when the moon sets in your sky.) The meteors appear to radiate from the southern part of the sky. From northern temperate latitudes, the maximum hourly rate may reach 15-20 meteors in a dark sky. Unlike many meteor showers, this one doesn’t have a very definite peak, despite the dates given above. Instead, these medium-speed meteors ramble along fairly steadily throughout late July and early August. An hour or two before dawn usually presents the most favorable view of the Delta Aquarids. Try watching in late July, in the hours between moonset and dawn.
August 12 and 13, 2012 Perseids
And when we say August 12 or 13, we mean the morning hours after midnight – not that night. The waning crescent moon will rise around midnight, only somewhat obscuring the Perseid display during the shower’s actual peak. The moonlight shouldn’t be so overwhelming as to ruin the show. These typically fast and bright meteors radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus the Hero. You don’t need to know Perseus to watch the shower because the meteors appear in all parts of the sky. The Perseids are considered by many people to be the year’s best shower, and often peak at 50 or more meteors per hour in a dark sky. The Perseids tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into midnight, and typically produce the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn. These meteors are often bright and frequently leave persistent trains. Starting at mid to late evening on the nights of August 11/12 and 12/13, watch for the Perseid meteors to streak across this short summer night from late night until dawn, with only a little interference from the waning crescent moon.
October 7, 2012 Draconids
The radiant point for the Draconid meteor shower almost coincides with the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon in the northern sky. That’s why the Draconids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. The Draconid shower is a real oddity, in that the radiant point stands highest in the sky as darkness falls. Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids are more likely to fly in the evening hours than in the morning hours after midnight. This shower is usually a sleeper, producing only a handful of languid meteors per hour in most years. But watch out if the Dragon awakes! In rare instances, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour. With no moon to interfere during the evening hours, try watching at nightfall and early evening on October 7 and 8.
October 21, 2012, before dawn. Orionids
With the waxing crescent moon setting before midnight (on October 20), that means a dark sky between midnight and dawn, or during the best viewing hours for the Orionid meteors. On a dark, moonless night, the Orionids exhibit a maximum of about 15 meteors per hour. These fast-moving meteors occasionally leave persistent trains and bright fireballs. If you trace these meteors backward, they seem to come from the Club of the famous constellation Orion the Hunter. You might know Orion’s bright, ruddy star Betelgeuse. The radiant is north of Betelgeuse. The Orionids have a broad and irregular peak that isn’t easy to predict. More meteors tend to fly after midnight, and the Orionids are typically at their best in the wee hours before dawn. The best viewing for the Orionids in 2012 will probably be before dawn on October 21..
November 4/5, 2012, late night November 4 until dawn November 5 South Taurids
The South (and North) Taurids are perhaps best suited to die-hard meteor aficionados. The meteoroid stream that feeds the Taurids is very spread out and dissipated. That means the Taurids are extremely long lasting (September 25 to November 25) but usually don’t offer more than about 7 meteors per hour. That’ll be true even on the South Taurids’ expected peak night of November 4 (before dawn November 5). The waxing crescent moon sets at early evening, leaving a dark sky for the South Taurid meteors, which are expected to produce the most meteors in the wee hours just after midnight on November 5.
November 11/12, 2012, late night November 11 until dawn November 12 North Taurids
This shower is long-lasting (October 12 – December 2) but modest, and the peak number is forecast at about 7 meteors per hour. Typically, you see the maximum numbers at around midnight to 1 a.m., when Taurus the Bull moves nearly overhead. This year, the thin waning crescent moon won’t rise till close to dawn, leaving a long dark night for these rather slow-moving but sometimes bright North Taurid meteors. you might even see some Taurid fireballs. The greatest numbers of North Taurid meteors come just after midnight on November 12..
November 16/17, 2012, late night November 16 until dawn November 17 Leonids
Radiating from the constellation Leo the Lion, the Leonid meteor shower is famous. Historically, this shower has produced some of the greatest meteor storms in history – at least one in living memory, 1966 – with rates as high as many thousands of meteors per hour. Indeed, on that beautiful night in 1966, the meteors did fall like rain. Some who watched the shower said they felt as if they needed to grip the ground, so strong was the impression of Earth plowing along through space, fording the meteoroid stream. The meteors, after all, were all streaming from a single point in the sky – the radiant point – in this case in the constellation Leo the Lion. Leonid meteor storms sometimes recur in cycles of 33 to 34 years, but the Leonids around the turn of the century – while wonderful for many observers – did not match the shower of 1966. And, in most years, the Lion whimpers rather than roars, producing a maximum of perhaps 10-15 meteors per hour. Like most meteor showers, the Leonids ordinarily pick up steam after midnight and display the greatest meteor numbers just before dawn. In 2012, however, the waxing crescent moon will setting at early evening, leaving a dark night for Leonid meteor shower.
December 13/14, 2012, late night December 13 until dawn December 14 Geminids
The final major meteor shower of every year (unless one surprises us!) is always the December Geminid shower, often producing 50 or more meteors per hour. It is a beloved shower, because, as a general rule, it’s either the August Perseids or the December Geminids that give us the most prolific display of the year. Best of all, the new moon guarantees a dark sky on the peak night of the Geminid shower (mid-evening December 13 until dawn December 14). But the nights on either side of the peak date should be good as well. Unlike many meteor showers, you can start watching the Geminids by 9 or 10 p.m. local time. The peak might be around 2 a.m. local time on these nights, because that’s when the shower’s radiant point is highest in the sky as seen around the world. With no moon to ruin the show, 2012 presents a most favorable year for watching the grand finale of the meteor showers. Best viewing of the Geminids will probably be from about 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on December 14.
Create your own printable sunrise/sunset calendar (check moon phase and moonrise/moonset boxes).
Tips for watching meteors
Most important: a dark sky. Here’s the first thing – the main thing – you need to know to become as proficient as the experts at watching meteors. That is, to watch meteors, you need a dark sky.
Know your dates and times. You also need to be looking on the right date, at the right time of night. Meteor showers occur over a range of dates, because they stem from Earth’s own movement through space. As we orbit the sun, we cross “meteor streams.” These streams of icy particles in space come from comets moving in orbit around the sun. Comets are fragile icy bodies that litter their orbits with debris. When this cometary debris enters our atmosphere, it vaporizes due to friction with the air. If moonlight or city lights don’t obscure the view, we on Earth see the falling, vaporizing particles as meteors.
What to bring. You can comfortably watch meteors from many places, assuming you have a dark sky: your back yard or deck, the hood of your car, the side of a road. If you want to bring along equipment to make yourself more comfortable, consider a blanket or reclining lawn chair, a thermos with a hot drink, binoculars for gazing along the pathway of the summer Milky Way. Be sure to dress warmly enough. Even the summer nights can be chilly, especially in the hours before dawn when the most meteors should be flying.
Are the predictions reliable? Although astronomers have tried to publish exact predictions in recent years, meteor showers remain notoriously unpredictable. Your best bet is to go outside at the times we suggest, and plan to spend at least an hour reclining comfortably while looking up at the sky.
In 2012, the full moon gets in the way of the May Eta Aquarids. Moon-free nights greet the April Lyrids, the November North Taurids and the December Geminids. Moonlight should not pose much of a problem for the October Draconids, October Orionids, November South Taurids and November Leonids. Some moon-free viewing time is in store for the January Quadrantids and July Delta Aquarids. Our almanac page provides links for access to the moonrise and moonset times in your sky.
Peak dates are derived from data published in the Observer’s Handbook by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and Guy Ottewell’s Astronomical Calendar.
Animation Credit: NASA MSFC
Earlier in 2012:
January 4, 2012 in the wee hours before dawn Quadrantids
When we say January 4, we mean in the wee hours before dawn, not that night. Although the waxing gibbous moon lights up most of the night and doesn’t set until roughly 3 a.m. local time, this is about the best time of night to watch for these meteors. Click here to know when the moon sets in your sky. Although the Quadrantids can produce over 100 meteors per hour, the sharp peak only lasts for a few hours, and doesn’t always come at an opportune time. In other words, you have to be in the right spot on Earth to view this meteor shower in all its splendor. If this year’s forecast proves correct, eastern North America, the North Atlantic Ocean and possibly western Europe will be in a fine position to watch this shower. However, meteor showers are notorious for defying predictions. This shower is worth a try at northerly latitudes all around the globe. Face the general direction of north-northeast, but take in as wide an expanse of sky as possible. Watch from about 2 a.m. until dawn.
Remember, meteor showers are like fishing. You go, you enjoy nature … and sometimes you catch something.
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I just came in, and tho the moon is just setting here in East Texas, I saw 5-6 meteors in just a few moments. A little low in the sky–ENE. I saw a lot early Monday morning (1am central). They should really start cookin here in a bit.
Dont Listen To any of the bullshit people say. This meteor shower will not be some peaceful thing that you can just sit back and watch, this meteor shower is going to hit earth hard and it is going to take lives. I know you will say im crazy but wait until tonight at 12:00 and if not tonight it will be before the new years. Head my warning, If you are in missouri,wisconsin, or area between there, take shelter because lives could be lost.
There are sapossed to be meteor showers on the 17th, 21st, and 28th. I dont think that is likly, but it could happen.
[...] EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2010 | Astronomy … [...]
i looked up last night and saw a bright aqua ball it came down between our place and the mountain i don’t know if it hit the river or the park area (provincial ) we are out of in the Lytton BC area
on dec. 13, 2010, while on my way to laurel, ms, i noticed a big ball of fire in the sky. as i rolled down my window there was another on and it was even bigger. there were three in all, and they seem to be falling. i have been browsing the internet for more info about that day, but i have failed to come across anything. i also took a couple pictures
Hello,
im very interested in meteors and what happens in the sky. thank you for this great information.
Sorry that english. I´m frm Germany an translate with google translator.
BRGDS Rob
Yes I am very interested in trying to watch the showers tonight Dec.16th, 2010 from Worcester,Mass. 01603.
Thank You for the informative page you listed. What DIECTION should I be looking torwards ?
ALSO do you have any websites that send All Space Meteors, Persieds, etc.. if you know of a site that sends out E-mails to keep me posted to any Space Activity Year-Round,please let me know of one.
Thanking You in Advance, P.R. petereno5@yahoo.com Hope to hear from you within a few hrs. Let me know where to check on a site if you don;t e-mail me directly,send me the name of a site that does such a thing.
[...] you are interested in other celestial events, check this site out for dates coming soon. The next meteor shower is January 4th, the [...]
Thank you for this important information!
I was so unfortunate to miss the showers on 13,14,.
Is January 4 the next and only oppurtunity to witness this magnificent event?
December 18, 2010 10:00 pm, Cypress, Texas. We saw a meteor shower.
At dawn on Friday / 12.24.2010, 18 / Muharram / e 1432, at six in the morning we suddenly, and to rise 15 meters almost fifteen block from the fire in the form of a cylinder about 1 meter in length and displayed about half a meter and falls to the ground alfalfa next to the house and was Alcborp very dense and the darkness because the sun still shines not only an hour later and when we look at the sun in a field of alfalfa did not see any traces of burning and sincere greetings and thanks &
No mention of a large red green yellow fireball over the NE US just after 6pm on 28 Dec 2010? Compare a marble to a star for size and with clearly visible sparks. Lasted about 2-3 seconds and burned out like a dying Roman candle or firework with sparks as it moved rapidly downward in what seemed to me to be in a N to NE direction when viewed from the western part of VA while traveling on I-81 N heading toward DC.
Second best I have ever seen. Saw a double ball streaking fairly low across the horizon from west to east when looking north in North central Florida o/a 1962 +/-. Any idea what this was? Very large and didn’t extinguish but moved left to right and out of sight.
December 29, 2010
I also saw a very large yellow and green fireball over northern New Jersey about 9:00 pm as I was traveling west on Route 80. It looked like a square box and moved downward from left to right. My friend also stated it looked liked a dying firework display. What was that?
We saw the same thing around 5pm
My time is 6:45 pm on 28 Dec 2010. This is confirmed by other’s sitings of this same description as found on other websites. Most all give the time as around 6:45. Are you sure about you times of 5 or 9? To my untrained eye this appeared to be very close to earth with clearly visible colors (varying accounts) and sparks as it quickly burned in the earth’s atmosphere. It would be very interesting for sure if it turns out that there were more than the one at 6:45
I saw this same event, heading west on the Mass Pike, exactly 6:45 pm on the 28th. It was shockingly huge and bright and low! Green/yellow, low in the sky, crossing from our left to right, indicating a northern trajectory. It went out of our sight to the north.
Stunning, whatever it was…
I saw something similar at about 12:20am 12/30/10 in the Mid-Hudson Valley of NY on my way home from work. It was short trailed and quite large. I recall it being greenish in color. I was traveling South-West on State Route 32 just outside of Kingston and it was ahead of me traveling in the same direction.
Forgot to record time but saw same as described on 28th- colorful with sparks behind. 100x better than I’ve ever seen. It was close!
I’m at OC, MD- MD/DE line at the ocean. It was north of me and heading east, visible for 2-3 seconds.
It will be an interesting year in the skies foresure!
Thanks for posting all the information about the upcoming meteor showers, conditions, and viewing tips!
Note: “November 17, 2010 Leonids” needs to be corrected to 2011.
Thank you Kay.
I didn’t even know about the Quadrantids but now feel really disappointed my bad timing has meant I missed it by only a few days… will just have to pencil the Lyrids into the calendar for April. :(
Northeast Texas…..I was traveling due east at 8:50pm CS time last night (January 11, 2011) and saw the most vivid, beautiful meteor I’ve ever seen. It was streaking downward from north to south until it disappeared into the horizon. It also looked like a roman candle burning across the sky and had a long tail. The “head” of the meteor presented itself burning orangeish-yellow and quickly changed to a bright green as it disappeared into the horizon. The tail was a bright blue or white streak that follow behind for quite a distance it seemed. It seemed to be falling slowly, a good 2-3 full seconds. HUGE & JUST BEAUTIFUL!
I live very near the equator. Any chance I get to see any of the meteors listed here??
Melayu,
You bet. The May Eta Aquarid meteor shower should be a good one for you to watch.
we saw something similar at about 12:20am 12/30/10 in the Mid-Hudson Valley of NY on my way home from work. It was short trailed and quite large. I recall it being greenish in color. I was traveling South-West on State Route 32 just outside of Kingston and it was ahead of me traveling in the same direction
Wow ,night sky is very beautiful.
We are watching some beautiful meteors tonight, could you tell us which meteor shower they belong to. We are viewing from worcestershire in the uk. Orion looks great tonight.
deedstar,
As a general rule, February offers little in the way of meteor showers. You might be seeing a few meteors from the (usually) minor Coma-Leo shower, or possibly some sporadic meteors.
Bruce
[...] might appear quite interesting and familiar. On the far left, although hard to find, appears a streaking meteor. Below and to the right of the meteor appears a longer and brighter streak of an airplane. The [...]
[...] you count the meteors singing across the sky during a Perseids Meteor Shower? I did and remember that too. White-out snowstorms, steamy sulphur in the mouth of a volcano on St. [...]
Thanks for this, one of my favorite things when I lived in Arizona was driving out to the desert to watch the meteor showers.
Hey thanks! I really need this for my take home exam :))
Bye the way did the Eta Aquarids occur last night?
This guide is PERFECT, thanks! I’m interested in astronomy at a basic level (meteor showers, learning the constellations, looking at planets, etc.), but most of the resources I’ve found so far either seem to be for people who want to lug around telescopes or are very undetailed. I came here trying to figure out whether the Lyrids would be worth watching, what with the moon being out that night, and your article was extremely helpful. I’m still planning on checking out the Lyrids but I’ll be sure to keep expectations low and check out the Eta Aquarids too. I looked at the linked planet guides, too, and once I finish off this post I’m ducking out to see if I can spot Saturn… thank you SO much!
This is great, thanks. I used to watch the stars a bit growing; my father had some knowledge from sailing, although we only had binoculars, no telescope.
I haven’t seen a meteor shower in years; I will definitely try to cath the April one. Thanks again.
[...] EarthSky’s .org had a great posting about this years Lyrid Meteor Shower: [...]
are you kidding me someone will read all those comments to read mine no way
I read yours!