“Shooting star” – known as Meteor
Meteor
- A meteor or “shooting star” is the visible streak of light from a meteoroid, heated and glowing from entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Most meteoroids that cause meteors are about the size of a pebble or less.
- Meteors become visible between about 30–70 miles above the Earth.
- Meteors may occur in showers, which arise when the Earth passes through a stream of debris left by a comet.
A fireball is a brighter-than-usual meteor
.Fireball
- A fireball is a brighter-than-usual meteor as “a meteor brighter than any of the planets”
- Fireballs reaching magnitude −14 or brighter are called bolides. (See the video.)
- Rarely to be seen.
Strong – Meteor Showers Dairy
(Source: British Astronomical Association Handbook)
Keys
- Beginning & ending date: Date in which the Meteor Showers will begin and end.
- Peak Date: Date in which the Meteor Shower should appear most active as best visible.
- Rating: Rough estimate of possibility of how good the Meteor Shower might be.
- Zenith Hourly Rate: Approximate number of meteors (shooting star) that will be visible per hour.
- Radiant Position: Mark the located in the sky.
- Degrees: Directions correspond to the following degrees by a compass.
- Comet: Earth passes through a stream of debris left by which comet? (parent object.)
- Note: Something to say.
Quadrantids (3rd thru 4th January)
- Beginning to ending date: 28th December to 12th January
- Peak Date: 3rd thru 4th January
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 40+ per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 15h 28m / DEC: +50° (Radiant low at peak in UK.)
- Degrees: 232º
- Comet: Comet Thatcher
- Note: Blue & yellow striking / diffuse radiant expect at peak Strong in 1992 / favourable.
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Lyrids (22nd April)
- Beginning to ending date: 15th April to 28th May
- Peak Date: 22nd April
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 15 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 18h 08m / DEC: +32°
- Degrees: 272º (Face:- West)
- Comet: Comet Thatcher
- Note: Normally rather activity, but fine display in 1803, 1922 & 1982 / Quite favourable.
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Eta Aquarids (5th thru 6th May)
- Beginning to ending date: 19th April to 28th May
- Peak Date: 5th thru 6th May
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 60 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 22h 20m / DEC: -01°
- Degrees: 335º (Face:- North)
- Comet: Comet 1P/Halley
- Note: Fine southern shower / poorly seen from the UK.
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Arietids (7th June)
- Beginning to ending date: 22nd May to 22nd July
- Peak Date: 7th June
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 54 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 02h 24m / DEC: +24°
- Degrees: 241º (Face: Southwest)
- Comet: 96P/Machholz
- Note: So close to the Sun when these showers reach their peak.
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Southern Delta Aquariids (28th July)
- Beginning to ending date: 12th July to 19th August
- Peak Date: 28th July
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 20 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 22h 36m / DEC: -16°
- Degrees: 342º (Face:- North)
- Comet: n/a
- Note: Metoers tend to be faint / Favourable.
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Perseids (11th thru 12th August)
- Beginning to ending date: 17th July to 24th August
- Peak Date: 11th thru 12th August
- Rating: Very strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 90 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 03h 13m / DEC: +58°
- Degrees: 048º (Face: Northeast)
- Comet: Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
- Note: Rich shower of fast meteors / High proportion of bright events leaving trains.
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Orionids (21st October)
- Beginning to ending date: 2nd October to 7th November
- Peak Date: 21st October
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 20 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 06h 24m / DEC: +15°
- Degrees: 096º (Face: East)
- Comet: Comet 1P/Halley
- Note: Fast meteors, many with trains / Good in 2006.
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Geminids (14th December)
- Beginning to ending date: 12th to 16th December
- Peak Date: 14th December
- Rating: Very Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 120 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 07h 32m / DEC: +33°
- Degrees: 138º (Face: Southeast)
- Comet: Minor planet 3200 Pharthon
- Note: Richest of the annual showers, with slow meteor and a good bright events
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Ursids (22nd December)
- Beginning to ending date: 17th to 26th December
- Peak Date: 22nd December
- Rating: Strong
- Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 10 per hour
- Radiant Position: RA: 14h 28m / DEC: +78°
- Degrees: 217º (Face: Southwest)
- Comet: Comet 8P/Tuttle
- Note: Under-observed shower which had produced outbursts in 1945, 1982 and 1986.
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Others…
- Full Calendar (printable)
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