All you need to know about major meteor showers in 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide…
Tag: meteor showers
Quadrantid meteors on night of January 3-4
The expected peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower in 2020 comes late evening January 3 until dawn January 4, with the predawn hours on January 4 being your best bet. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/quadrantid-meteor-shower-before-dawn-in-early-january…
Dark skies for 2020’s Quadrantid meteors
2020’s first major meteor shower is the Quadrantid shower. Best time to watch is probably late night January 3 until dawn January 4. Northerly latitudes are favored. No moon in the predawn hours (2 a.m. till dawn) this year! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-quadrantid-meteor-shower…
Astronomers spy the Geminid meteors’ dust trail in space
Astronomers held a press conference this week to discuss the trail of dust left by 3200 Phaethon – the mysterious, blue rock-comet that spawns the Geminid meteor shower each year. This object was one of the 1st to blur the distinction between asteroids and comets. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/rock-comet-3200-phaethon-geminid-meteor-shower…
Astronomers catch a comet outburst
Remember comet 46P/Wirtanen? It was a bright comet about this time last year. Around the time it swept near the Earth and sun, the comet entered the field of view NASA’s TESS planet-hunter. And boom! It underwent an outburst, caught by TESS. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/comet-46p-wirtanen-outburst-caught-by-tess…
All you need to know: 2019’s Leonid meteor shower
Here are all the details you need for 2019’s Leonid meteor shower, peaking on the morning of November 18, though under the light of a waning gibbous moon. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-leonid-meteor-shower…
North Taurid meteors to peak in moonlight
Slow-moving North Taurids don’t exhibit a sharp peak, so meteor rates may remain fairly steady for the next several days. Too bad about the moon! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/north-taurid-meteors-on-november-nights…
Around now, watch for Taurid fireballs
Maybe you’ve been watching for them already. A nominal peak of the shower is November 4 and 5, and the North and South Taurids are overlapping now. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/south-taurid-meteor-shower-in-november…
All you need to know: Taurid meteors
Although a modest shower, perhaps offering 5 meteors per hour, the Taurid shower lasts over a month and is known for producing dramatic fireballs. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/south-north-taurid-fireballs-how-to-watch…
Orionid meteors late night until dawn
A bright moon interferes for much of the night for 2018’s Orionid meteor shower. Watch shortly before dawn, after moonset. Try watching on the mornings of October 20, 21 and 22. A dark sky is always best. Have fun! Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/radiant-point-for-orionid-meteor-shower…