Although leonids produce fewer meteors than many other major meteor showers, they are known for producing fast, bright fireball meteors.
On the leonids peak before the new moon – on the morning of November 18, the moon will have only 6% illumination, in the eastern United States, and we won’t rise until around 5 a.m. on November 17, so you’ll have plenty of time to see this meteor shower in perfect viewing conditions.
The radiation of Leonids is the constellation Leo, which rises at the local midnight period and is highest in the sky near dawn.
Gemini (December)
Gemini are active from around December 4 to December 17, and spend the night from December 13 to December 14. They are peak and peak, so the night on the 13th is the best time for Skywatching.
Gemini is the most spectacular meteor shower of the year: In addition to boasting up to 120 or even 150 meteors per hour during peak hours, this meteor shower is also the smartest and brightest of the year.
Gemini are bright, slow shooting stars that usually have yellow hues, but they can be other colors such as green, blue, white, red or orange. Unlike most meteors caused by comet fragments, Gemini is a residue of an asteroid.
The peaks of Gemini (their radiant mountains, the constellation Gemini) will be on the horizon all night and will reach their highest point around 2 a.m. local time, so meteors can be seen almost all night.
The moon will be about 32% illuminated that night and will rise at 1:30 a.m. in the eastern U.S., so if you watch this shower soon after midnight, the moonlight will not interfere with your viewing experience.
Ursids (December)
Ursids were active around December 17 to December 26, reaching their peak in the early hours of December 22. This meteor shower is less active than others, usually about 10 meteors per hour; however, viewing conditions are perfect for skydiving. The moon will be set around 6 p.m. on the 21st, so no moonlight will interfere with this meteor shower.
Even though Ursids usually produces the most meteors before dawn, when its radiant (or Ursa Minor) is the highest in the sky, you will be able to see the meteors throughout the night at the peak of this shower. In the northern latitudes, Ursids’ radiation is above the horizon all night long.
Pay attention to next year when showering
Two feet (January)
The Four Guards took place in December and January and was held in the first week of the year. This meteor shower has sharp peaks, meaning most of its activity occurs in a narrow window of time. Bipeds usually produce many fireball meteors (i.e., very bright meteors), with up to 120 meteors per hour during peak showers.
The radiation of five nitrogen is the Mularis constellation, although the International Astronomical Union no longer regards these stars as constellations. Instead, the sign Boötes is located next to the Big Big Dipper.
