Robert Makemson Guide to Astronomy in Jacksonville

Meteor Showers

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2012 Meteor Showers

January

  • 79.3% illumination
  • Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

    Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
  • April

  • Lyrids

  • April 21-22

    Frequency: 16-30 per hour
  • 1.5% illumination
  • The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
  • Parent Comet: C/Thatcher
  • May

  • 99.6% illumination
  • June

  • 16.2% illumination
  • The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.
  • July

  • 72.4% illumination
  • At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.
  • 88.9% illumination
  • The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.
  • August

  • 25.4% illumination
  • This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
  • October

  • 35.7% illumination
  • Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
  • 35.3% illumination
  • This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
  • November

  • 61.9% illumination
  • This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
  • Parent Comet: 2P/Encke
  • 13.2% illumination
  • The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
  • December

0% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

2013 Meteor Showers

January

Quadrantids

January 3-4

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
52% illumination
Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

April

Lyrids

April 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
90.3% illumination
The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Parent Comet: C/Thatcher

May

Eta Aquarids

May 5-6

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
23.3% illumination
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

June

Lyrids

June 14-16

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
43.1% illumination
The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.

July

Delta Aquarids

July 28-29

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
70.1% illumination
At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids

July 29-30

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
49.4% illumination
The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids

August 12-13

Frequency: 45+ per hour
32.2% illumination
This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
Parent Comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

October

Draconids

October 8-9

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
22.2% illumination
Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
Parent Comet: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Orionids

October 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
96.2% illumination
This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

November

Taurids

November 5-12

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
5% illumination
This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Parent Comet: 2P/Encke

Leonids

November 16-18

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
99.5% illumination
The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
Parent Comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

December

Geminids

December 12-14

Frequency: 45+ per hour
81.6% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

2014 Meteor Showers

January

Quadrantids

January 3-4

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
10.2% illumination
Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

April

Lyrids

April 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
47% illumination
The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Parent Comet: C/Thatcher

May

Eta Aquarids

May 5-6

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
34.5% illumination
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

June

Lyrids

June 14-16

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
92.5% illumination
The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.

July

Delta Aquarids

July 28-29

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
1.9% illumination
At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids

July 29-30

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
11.9% illumination
The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids

August 12-13

Frequency: 45+ per hour
97.3% illumination
This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
Parent Comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

October

Draconids

October 8-9

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
99.7% illumination
Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
Parent Comet: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Orionids

October 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
5.8% illumination
This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

November

Taurids

November 5-12

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
95.5% illumination
This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Parent Comet: 2P/Encke

Leonids

November 16-18

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
23.7% illumination
The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
Parent Comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

December

Geminids

December 12-14

Frequency: 45+ per hour
59.8% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

Read more about the 2011 Geminids.
Parent Comet: 3200 Phaethon

2015 Meteor Showers

January

Quadrantids

January 3-4

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
98.7% illumination
Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

April

Lyrids

April 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
13.5% illumination
The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Parent Comet: C/Thatcher

May

Eta Aquarids

May 5-6

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
96.5% illumination
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

June

Lyrids

June 14-16

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
2.6% illumination
The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.

July

Delta Aquarids

July 28-29

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
91.2% illumination
At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids

July 29-30

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
99.2% illumination
The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids

August 12-13

Frequency: 45+ per hour
7.4% illumination
This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
Parent Comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

October

Draconids

October 8-9

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
14.4% illumination
Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
Parent Comet: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Orionids

October 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
60.2% illumination
This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

November

Taurids

November 5-12

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
37% illumination
This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Parent Comet: 2P/Encke

Leonids

November 16-18

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
34.1% illumination
The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
Parent Comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

December

Geminids

December 12-14

Frequency: 45+ per hour
6% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

Read more about the 2011 Geminids.
Parent Comet: 3200 Phaethon

2016 Meteor Showers

January

Quadrantids

January 3-4

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
27.6% illumination
Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

April

Lyrids

April 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
99.8% illumination
The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Parent Comet: C/Thatcher

May

Eta Aquarids

May 5-6

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
2.1% illumination
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

June

Lyrids

June 14-16

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
77.3% illumination
The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.

July

Delta Aquarids

July 28-29

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
35.1% illumination
At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids

July 29-30

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
16.7% illumination
The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids

August 12-13

Frequency: 45+ per hour
67.3% illumination
This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
Parent Comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

October

Draconids

October 8-9

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
56.3% illumination
Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
Parent Comet: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Orionids

October 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
72.3% illumination
This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

November

Taurids

November 5-12

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
30% illumination
This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Parent Comet: 2P/Encke

Leonids

November 16-18

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
91.8% illumination
The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
Parent Comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

December

Geminids

December 12-14

Frequency: 45+ per hour
99.3% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

Read more about the 2011 Geminids.
Parent Comet: 3200 Phaethon

2017 Meteor Showers

January

Quadrantids

January 3-4

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
39.9% illumination
Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

April

Lyrids

April 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
15% illumination
The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Parent Comet: C/Thatcher

May

Eta Aquarids

May 5-6

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
69.5% illumination
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

June

Lyrids

June 14-16

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
64.8% illumination
The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.

July

Delta Aquarids

July 28-29

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
22.8% illumination
At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids

July 29-30

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
42.5% illumination
The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids

August 12-13

Frequency: 45+ per hour
75.1% illumination
This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
Parent Comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

October

Draconids

October 8-9

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
84.2% illumination
Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
Parent Comet: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Orionids

October 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
1.3% illumination
This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

November

Taurids

November 5-12

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
98% illumination
This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Parent Comet: 2P/Encke

Leonids

November 16-18

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
2.2% illumination
The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
Parent Comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

December

Geminids

December 12-14

Frequency: 45+ per hour
25.1% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

Read more about the 2011 Geminids.
Parent Comet: 3200 Phaethon

2018 Meteor Showers

January

Quadrantids

January 3-4

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
94.1% illumination
Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

Quadrantids and other Meteor Showers in 2012
Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

April

Lyrids

April 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
44.9% illumination
The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Parent Comet: C/Thatcher

May

Eta Aquarids

May 5-6

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
73% illumination
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

June

Lyrids

June 14-16

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
3.8% illumination
The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak.

July

Delta Aquarids

July 28-29

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
99.7% illumination
At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids

July 29-30

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
92.9% illumination
The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids

August 12-13

Frequency: 45+ per hour
0.7% illumination
This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.
Parent Comet: 109P/Swift-Tuttle

October

Draconids

October 8-9

Frequency: 0-15 per hour
0.1% illumination
Expect a peak rate of 10 yellow meteors per hour under clear, moonless conditions. These are fairly slow meteors, coming in at 12.5 miles per second. They radiate from the head of the constellation Draco. This shower was once known as the Giacobinids.
Parent Comet: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Orionids

October 21-22

Frequency: 16-30 per hour
89.8% illumination
This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs. They radiate from a point in the sky not far from Orion’s red giant star Betelgeuse.
Parent Comet: 1P/Halley

November

Taurids

November 5-12

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
8.5% illumination
This shower is actually two streams, the North Taurids and the South Taurids. It produces about 5-10 bright yellow meteors per hour. They enter our atmosphere at 17 miles per hour and often fragment into multiple meteors. Taurid meteors radiate form the sky not far from the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Parent Comet: 2P/Encke

Leonids

November 16-18

Frequency: 31-45 per hour
69.1% illumination
The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occurred in 2001. Normal peak rates are 15-20 fast meteors (44 miles per second) . Mostly blue or green in color., with many leaving persistent dust trains behind them upon disintegrating.
Parent Comet: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

December

Geminids

December 12-14

Frequency: 45+ per hour
32.4% illumination
The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. They come in at a moderate speed of 21.75 miles per second, therefore they are bright and often produce fireballs. They radiate point is near Gemini’s bright twins, Castor and Pollux.

Read more about the 2011 Geminids.
Parent Comet: 3200 Phaethon