How to Watch the Spectacular Quadrantids Meteor Shower Tonight

The Orionids typically produce about 20 to 25 meteors per hour during their peak and are known to be particularly bright—many of the Orionids are fireball meteors. Like the Eta Aquariids, the Orionids are remnants of Halley’s Comet.

The Orionids are seen radiating from the constellation Orion, rising around 11pm local time and highest in the sky just before dawn.

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

Leonidas (November-December)

The Leonids are active from about November 3 to December 2 According to the American Meteor Society, they have a sharp peak, producing the most meteors overnight from November 16 to November 17. Other organizations, however, predict that this shower will rise from the top 17 November to 18 November. During Leonid’s peak, you can expect to see about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies.

Although the Leonids produce fewer meteors than many other large meteor showers, they are known for Produces fast-moving, bright, fireball meteors.

Leonids Peak Just Before New Moon – On the morning of November 18, the moon will be right 6 percent is lit And won’t rise until around the eastern United States 5 am on November 17, so you’ll have plenty of time to see this meteor shower in perfect viewing conditions.

The Leonid aura is the constellation Leo, which rises around midnight local time and is highest in the sky at dawn.

Geminids (December)

Geminids are active from about December 4th to December 17th, peaking overnight from December 13th to December 14th. They have a sharp peak, so the night of the 13th is the best time to view the sky.

The Geminids are the most spectacular meteor showers of the year: boasting up to 120 or even 150 meteors per hour, this meteor shower is the brightest and most colorful of the year.

Geminids are bright, slow-moving meteors that often have a yellow tone, but can be a range of other colors, including green, blue, white, red, or orange. And unlike most meteorites, which are formed by cometary debris, the Geminids are the remnants of an asteroid.

On the night when the Geminids peak, their brightest star, Gemini, will be above the horizon all night and reach its highest point around 2 a.m. local time, so the meteors will be visible almost all night.

That night the moon will be almost 32 percent is lit and will rise around 1:30 am in the eastern United States, so if you’re viewing this fountain shortly after midnight, the moonlight won’t interfere with your viewing experience.

Ursids (December)

Ursids are active from December 17 to around December 26, peaking in the early morning hours of December 22. This meteor shower is less active than others, usually about 10 meteors per hour; However, viewing conditions will be suitable for skywatching. The moon will set at approximately 6pm in the eastern US on the 21st, so no moonlight will interfere with this meteor shower.

Although the Ursids usually produce the most meteors just before dawn, when its radiant, Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is highest in the sky, you’ll be able to see meteors throughout the night at the peak of this shower. In northern latitudes the Ursid’s glow stays above the horizon all night.