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The Orionids emit about 20 to 25 meteors per hour during their brightest period and are known to be very bright – most of the Orionids are fiery meteors. Like the Eta Aquariids, the Orionids are debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
The Orionids appear to come from the constellation Orion, which rises around 11 pm local time and is highest in the sky just before dawn.
The new moon is on the night of October 21-22, and the week-long moon will set before midnight, so you’ll have a good view to see this storm.
Leonids (November-December)
The Leonids are active from November 3 to December 2. They have a sharp peak, producing the most meteors overnight from November 16 to November 17, according to the American Meteor Society. Some agencies, however, predict that this shower will peak November 17th to November 18th. At the peak of the Leonids, you can expect to see 15 meteors per hour under a dark sky.
Although the Leonids produce fewer meteors than most other meteors, they are known releasing rapid, bright, fiery bolts.
The Leonids will peak before the new moon – on the morning of November 18, the moon will be fine. 6 percent is enlightened and the eastern US will not rise until around 5 a.m on November 17, so you’ll have plenty of time to see this meteor shower under good viewing conditions.
The Leonids are the constellation of Leo, which rises at midnight local time and is highest in the sky at dawn.
Geminids (December)
The Geminids are active from December 4 to December 17, rising overnight from December 13 to December 14. They have a sharp peak, so the night of the 13th is the best time to watch the sky.
The Geminids are the most spectacular meteor shower of the year: In addition to boasting up to 120 or 150 meteors per hour at their peak, this meteor shower is also the brightest and most beautiful of the year.
The Geminids are bright, slow-moving meteors that usually have yellow tones, but can be a variety of colors, including green, blue, white, red, or orange. And unlike most meteors, which are caused by comet debris, the Geminids are asteroid remnants.
On the night of the Geminids, their light, the constellation Gemini, will be above the horizon all night and will reach its highest point around 2 o’clock local time, so the meteor will be visible almost all night.
That night, the moon will be near 32 percent highlighted and they will rise around 1:30 am in the eastern US, so if you watch this shower shortly after midnight, the moonlight won’t interfere with your viewing.
The Ursids (December)
The Ursids are active around December 17 to December 26, peaking in the early morning hours of December 22. The meteor shower is much smaller than the others, producing about 10 meteors per hour; however, the visuals will be excellent for aerial viewing. The moon will set around 6pm in the eastern US on the 21st, so the moonlight won’t interfere with the meteor shower.
Although the Ursids usually produce the most meteors just before dawn, when its star, the Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is high in the sky, you can see meteors all night during this shower. In northern regions the Ursids’ light stays above the horizon all night.
