- Orionids October 21 - 22
- N&S Taurids Active October & November
- Leonids November 17 - 18
- Geminids December 13 - 14
- Ursids December 21 - 22
The Orionids will peak first towards the end of the October, said Zontini. An almost full moon may block some of the dimmer meteors in the evening, but the moon will set after midnight, allowing time for good stargazing towards dawn.
The Southern and Northern Taurids aren’t extremely active but they will show activity together in October and November and are often associated with a heightened number of fireballs.
The Leonids will peak with about 15 meteors per hour this year.
The Geminid meteor shower puts on a good show producing 50 to 100 meteors per hour at its peak. This year the moon will set early allowing for more darkness in the night sky.
Finally, the Ursid meteor shower peaks close to Christmas but isn’t as active as the Geminids.
Remember it is best to get away from city lights and give yourself time. It can take several minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Since these will all be peaking as we head towards the new year, don’t forget a blanket during the chilly nights!
More information can be found at earthysky.org or amsmeteors.org.
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