d-Aquarids July 12 - August 19 July 28 20 41 km/sec |
Arietids May 29 - June 19 June 7 60 37km/sec |
z-Perseids May 20 - July 18 June 29 40 -------------- |
Eta Aquarids April 19 - May 12 May 5 60 66 km/sec |
April Lyrids April 16 - 25 Apr. 22 15 48 km/sec |
Quandritids January 1 - 5 Jan. 3 120 42 km/sec |
Ursids December 17 - 26 Dec. 22 >12 34 km/sec |
Geminids December 7 - 17 Dec. 14 110 35 km/sec |
Leonids November 14 - 21 Nov. 18 20 71 km/sec |
Orionids October 2 - November 11 Oct. 21 20 66 km/sec |
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This page last updated 07-15-09 |
Background image original design courtesy of and Copyright J. Weaver 1999 |
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Perseids July 17 - August 24 Aug. 12 >100 60 km/sec |
* SHOWER * PERIOD OF ACTIVITY PEAK ZHR VELOCITY |
This is a table of Annual Major Meteor Showers. While there are many more meteor showers during the year, the meteor showers listed here are more easily visible to the naked eye from a dark-sky observing site and generally produce 20 or more visible meteors per hour. A list of general definitions for the beginning observer follows the table for an educational reference as well as links to sites with complete listings for ALL known meteor showers. Definitions are below meteor table for further explaination. |
Meteoroid: The particle that floats through space before entering Earth's atmosphere.
Meteor: That same particle entering and streaking through Earth's atmosphere. Meteorite: If it survives it's firey plunge and lands on Earth, then it is a meteorite |
Radiant: ( SHOWER) The area of sky from which meteors appear to emmanate. (Orionids from Orion) |
(The only exception is the Quandritids of which the radiant is the constellation Bootes) |
Zenithal Hourly Rate = ZHR Average number of meteors one can see during the peak of the meteor shower. |
Below are suggested links for further educational meteor exploration |
NORTH AMERICAN METEOR NETWORK |
An excellent thorough guide including history and dates of many meteor showers |
Definitions Courtesy of the National Audobon Society Field Guide To The Night Sky |
The American Meteor Society |
Includes Weekly Meteor Activity Outlook. |
2008 Meteor Shower Calendar |
2008 Fireball Sightings Table |
A non-profit scientific organization established to inform, encourage, and support the research activities of both amateur and professional astronomers who are interested in the fascinating field of Meteor Astronomy. |