List of meteor showers
Encyclopedia

Table of meteor shower
Meteor shower
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. Most meteors are smaller...

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Note: Dates are accurate for 2009 only.
Name Dates Peak dates Right ascension
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...

Declination
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...

Speed
Speed
In kinematics, the speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity ; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance traveled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as...

 (km/s)
ZHR
Zenithal Hourly Rate
In astronomy, the Zenithal Hourly Rate of a meteor shower is the number of meteors a single observer would see in one hour under a clear, dark sky if the radiant of the shower were at the zenith...

Rating
Quadrantids
Quadrantids
The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower.The radiant of this shower is an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation that is now part of Boötes...

 
1 January – 5 January 3 January 15:20
49
41 120 Strong
Gamma Velids 1 January – 15 January 5 January 08:20
35 2 Weak
Alpha Crucids 6 January – 28 January 15 January 12:48
50 3 Weak
Delta Cancrids
Delta Cancrids
The Delta Cancrids is a medium strength meteor shower lasting from December 14 to February 14, the main shower from January 1 to January 24. The radiant is located in the constellation of Cancer, near Delta Cancri. It peaks on January 17 each year, with only four meteors per hour. It was first...

 
1 January – 31 January 17 January 08:40
20
28 4 Medium
Alpha Hydrids 5 January – 14 February 19 January 08:52
44 2 Weak
Eta Carinids
Eta Carinids
The Eta Carinids are a meteor shower lasting from January 14 to 27 each year. It peaks on January 21. It was first discovered in 1961 in Australia. Roughly two to three meteors occur per hour at its maximum. It gets its name from the radiant which is close to the nebulous star Eta Carinae....

 
14 January – 27 January 21 January 10:40
  2 Weak
Alpha Carinids 24 January – 9 February 30 January 06:20
25 2 Weak
Delta Velids 22 January – 21 February 5 February 08:44
35 1 Weak
Alpha Centaurids
Alpha Centaurids
The Alpha Centaurids are a meteor shower in the constellation Centaurus, peaking in early February each year. The average magnitude is around 2.5, with a peak of about three meteors an hour....

 
28 January – 21 February 7 February 14:00
56 6 Medium
Omicron Centaurids
Omicron Centaurids
The Omicron Centaurids meteor shower has a radiant which is in the constellation Centaurus which is visible from the southern hemisphere. It is most easily seen at 2:00 am, local standard time. It is visible from late January through February each year. It peaks in mid-February....

 
31 January – 19 February 11 February 11:48
51 2 Weak
Theta Centaurids
Theta Centaurids
Theta Centaurids is a weak meteor shower that occurs from January 23 to March 12. It is only visible from the southern hemisphere.-Basic Information:*Abbreviation: TCE*Speed: 60 km/s*Rating: Weak*Hourly rate: 4*Peak Date: February 14...

 
23 January – 12 March 21 February 14:00
60 4 Weak
February Leonids 1 February – 28 February several 11:00
06
30 5 Medium
Delta Leonids 15 February – 10 March 24 February 11:12
16
23 2 Medium
Gamma Normids 25 February – 22 March 13 March 16:36
56 8 Medium
Virginids
Virginids
The Virginids are a meteor shower. There are many major and minor meteor shower streams that occur during the Virginid Complex, including the Alpha Virginids, Gamma Virginids, Eta Virginids, Theta Virginids, Iota Virginids, Lambda Virginids, Mu Virginids, Pi Virginids, and Psi Virginids, and March...

 
1 March – 15 April several 13:00
30 5 Medium
Delta Pavonids 11 March – 16 April 30 March 20:36
58 5 Weak
Librids 15 April – 30 April several 15:12
30 5 Medium
Lyrids
Lyrids
The Lyrids are a strong meteor shower lasting from April 16 to April 26 each year. The radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Lyra, peaking at April 22—hence they are also called the Alpha Lyrids or April Lyrids. The source of the meteor shower is the periodic Comet...

 
15 April – 28 April 22 April 18:04
34
49 15 Strong
Pi Puppids
Pi Puppids
The Pi Puppids are a meteor shower associated with the comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup.The meteor stream was viewable around April 23 but only in years around the parent comet's perihelion date, the last being in 2003...

 
15 April – 28 April 23 April 07:20
18 variable Irregular
Alpha Bootids 14 April – 12 May 28 April 14:32
19
20 2 Weak
Mu Virginids  1 April – 12 May 29 April 15:08
30 2 Weak
Omega Capricornids 19 April – 15 May 2 May 21:00
50 2 Weak
Eta Aquariids  19 April – 28 May 6 May 22:32
66 60 Strong
Alpha Scorpiids 1 May – 31 May 16 May 16:12
35 5 Medium
Beta Corona Austrinids 23 April – 30 May 16 May 18:56
45 3 Weak
Omega Scorpiids 23 May – 15 June 2 June 15:56
21 5 Weak
Arietids
Arietids
The Arietids are a strong meteor shower that lasts from May 22 to July 2 each year, and peaks on June 7. The Arietids, along with the Zeta Perseids, are the most intense daylight meteor showers of the year...

 
22 May – 2 July 7 June 02:56
24
38 54 Strong
Sagittarids 1 June – 15 July 19 June 18:16
30 5 Medium
June Lyrids 10 June – 21 June 15 June 18:20 +35 variable (max 1.3-3.5) Irregular
Tau Cetids 18 June – 4 July 27 June 01:36
66 4 Weak
June Bootids
June Bootids
The June Bootids are a meteor shower occurring roughly between 26 June and 2 July each year. In most years their activity is weak, with a zenith hourly rate of only 1 or 2. However, occasional outbursts have been seen, with the outburst of 1916 drawing attention to the previously unknown meteor...

 
28 June – 28 June 28 June 14:36
49
14 variable Irregular
Tau Aquariids 19 June – 5 July 28 June 22:48
63 7 Weak
Theta Ophiuchids 4 June – 15 July 29 June 16:36
29 2 Weak
July Pegasids 7 July – 13 July 10 July 22:40
15
70 3 Medium
July Phoenicids 10 July – 16 July 13 July 02:08
47 variable Irregular
Alpha Cygnids 11 July – 30 July 18 July 20:20
47
37 2 Weak
Sigma Capricornids 15 July – 11 August 20 July 20:28
30 5 Weak
Piscis Austrinids 15 July – 10 August 28 July 22:44
35 5 Medium
Southern Delta Aquariids  12 July – 19 August 28 July 22:36
41 20 Strong
Alpha Capricornids
Alpha Capricornids
Alpha Capricornids is a meteor shower that takes place as early as 15 July and continues until around 10 August. The meteor shower was discovered by Hungarian astronomer Miklos von Konkoly-Thege in 1871.This shower has infrequent but relatively bright meteors, with some fireballs...

 
3 July – 15 August 30 July 20:28
23 4 Medium
Southern Iota Aquariids 25 July – 15 August 4 August 22:16
34 2 Medium
Northern Delta Aquariids 15 July – 25 August 8 August 22:20
42 4 Medium
Perseids
Perseids
The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are so-called because the point from which they appear to come, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Perseus. The name derives in part from the word Perseides , a term found in Greek mythology...

 
17 July – 24 August 12 August 03:04
58
59 90 Strong
Kappa Cygnids
Kappa Cygnids
Kappa Cygnids, abbreviated KCG, is a minor meteor shower that takes place in August along with the larger Perseids meteor shower. Kappa Cygnids are named for the radiant where the meteor shower will appear to line up in sky by the constellation Cygnus and the star Kappa Cygni....

 
3 August – 25 August 17 August 19:04
59
25 3 Medium
Northern Iota Aquariids 11 August – 31 August 20 August 21:48
31 3 Medium
Pi Eridanids 20 August – 5 September 25 August 03:28
59 4 Weak
Gamma Doradids 19 August – 6 September 28 August 04:36
41 5 Weak
Alpha Aurigids 25 August – 8 September 1 September 05:36
42
66 7 Medium
September Perseids 5 September – 10 October 8 September 04:00
47
64 6 Medium
Aries-triangulids 9 September – 16 September 12 September 02:00
29
35 3 Weak
Piscids 1 September – 30 September 20 September 00:32
00
26 3 Medium
Kappa Aquariids 8 September – 30 September 20 September 22:36
16 3 Weak
Delta Aurigids
Delta Aurigids
Delta Aurigids is a minor reliable meteor shower that takes place from mid-September to early October....

 
22 September – 23 October 10 October 05:40
52
64 6 Medium
October Arietids 1 October – 31 October 8 October 02:08
08
28 5 Medium
Giacobinids  6 October – 10 October 8 October 17:28
54
20 variable Irregular
Epsilon Geminids 14 October – 27 October 18 October 06:56
27
71 2 Medium
Orionids
Orionids
The Orionid meteor shower, usually shortened to the Orionids, is the most prolific meteor shower associated with Halley's Comet. The Orionids are so-called because the point they appear to come from, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Orion. Orionids are an annual meteor shower which...

 
2 October – 7 November 21 October 06:20
16
66 20 Strong
Leo Minorids
Leo Minorids
Leo Minorids is a weak meteor shower that takes place from October 19 till October 27 each year. With a weak moon the meteor shower may be visible with the naked eye, however this meteor shower is best observed only from the Northern Hemisphere with telescopic plotting...

 
21 October – 23 October 22 October 10:48
37
62 2 Weak
Southern Taurids  1 November – 25 November 5 November 03:28
13
27 5 Medium
Delta Eridanids 6 November – 29 November 10 November 03:52
31 2 Weak
Northern Taurids  1 November – 25 November 12 November 03:52
22
29 5 Medium
Zeta Puppids 2 November – 20 December 13 November 07:48
41 3 Weak
Leonids
Leonids
The Leonids is a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle. The Leonids get their name from the location of their radiant in the constellation Leo: the meteors appear to radiate from that point in the sky. They tend to peak in November.Earth moves through the meteoroid...

 
14 November – 21 November 17 November 10:12
22
71 variable Irregular
Alpha Monocerotids
Alpha Monocerotids
The Alpha Monocerotids or Monocerotids of November is it a meteor swarm with the international acronym AMO, not to be confused with the Monocerotids of December, international acronym MON. The swarm is visible from 15 to 25 November of every year; its peak occurs on 21 or 22 November. The speed of...

 
15 November – 25 November 21 November 07:20
03
60 variable Irregular
Chi Orionids 25 November – 31 December 2 December 05:28
23
28 3 Medium
Phoenicids
Phoenicids
The Phoenicids are a minor meteor shower, first noticed by observers in New Zealand, Australia, the Indian Ocean, and South Africa during an outburst of approximately 100 meteors an hour that occurred during December 1956. Like other meteor showers, the Phoenicids get their name from the location...

 
28 November – 9 December 6 December 01:12
18 variable Irregular
Monocerotids
Monocerotids
Monocerotids is a reliable minor meteor shower that takes place from December 7 to December 20 and peaks on December 9....

 
27 November – 17 December 9 December 06:48
08
43 3 Medium
Sigma Hydrids 3 December – 15 December 12 December 08:28
02
58 2 Medium
Puppid-velids 2 December – 16 December 12 December 09:00
40 4 Medium
Geminids
Geminids
The Geminids are a meteor shower caused by the object 3200 Phaethon, which is thought to be a Palladian asteroid. This would make the Geminids, together with the Quadrantids, the only major meteor showers not originating from a comet...

 
12 December – 16 December 14 December 02:28
33
35 120 Strong
Coma Berenicids
Coma Berenicids
Coma Berenicids is a minor meteor shower, originating from the constellation Coma Berenices. The shower appears from December 8 to January 23 with the estimated maximum on December 20—29 . The radiant during that time is at α=165°, δ=+30°...

 
12 December – 23 January 20 December 11:40
25
65 5 Medium
Ursids
Ursids
The Ursids meteor activity begins annually around December 17th and runs for a week plus, until the 25th or 26th. This meteor shower is named for its radiant point which is located near the star Beta Ursae Minoris in the constellation Ursa Minor....

 
17 December – 26 December 22 December 14:28
76
33 10 Strong

Note

This list of meteor streams and peak activity times is based on data from the International Meteor Organization while most of the parent body associations are from Gary W. Kronk
Gary W. Kronk
Gary W. Kronk is an American amateur astronomer and writer.-Biography:Kronk was born in Granite City, Illinois, United States, on March 23, 1956...

 book, Meteor Showers': A Description Catalog, Enslow Publishers, New Jersey, ISBN 0-89490-071-4, and from Peter Jenniskens
Peter Jenniskens
Petrus Matheus Marie Jenniskens is a Dutch astronomer and a senior research scientist at the Carl Sagan Center of the SETI Institute and at NASA Ames Research Center. He is an expert on meteor showers. Jenniskens is the author of the 790 page book "Meteor Showers and their Parent Comets"...

's book, "Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK, ISBN 13-978-0-521-85349-1.

External links

A calendar of meteor showers in 2011 can be found at these external websites:
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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