One of the better annual meteor showers of the year, expecially for the last few years, is the Orionids, one of two showers that allow our atmosphere to sample the debris from Halley's Comet.
Activity has already begun at low levels. In the Northern hemisphere, the radiant doesn't rise until after 10 PM, so the dates I give below will be for the date of the early morning hours after midnight when the highest rates for each night are observed.... i.e after midnight.
The ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) should be over 20 from the morning of the 19th to the morning of the 26th. Based on the last two years, the peak time should be close to dawn on the morning of the 21st for the US, with the west coast getting closer to the actual peak time. But of course, meteor showers are like a box o' chocolates; you never know what you will see unless you look.
The normal peak ZHR is only about 20, but 2007 saw a high of 70, and last year it was close to 40. Recent mathematical analysis of the orbits of the meteoroids indicates this may be one last year of enhanced rates.
For those who watchg from dark skies (not near a city) the hours right before dawn should allow you to see close to the ZHR count per hour.
The Orionids are cometary debris from Halley's comet inbound toward the sun. The eta Aquarids near May 5th sample the outbound leg. Because the comet (and the ejected meteoroids) are in a retrograde orbit (traveling around the sun in the opposite direction to the planets) we hit them close to head on, at high velocity. They impact the atmosphere at more than 67 km/sec, so they are swift and bright. They appear to come from the area of Orion's oustretched left arm (for those in the northern hemisphere). They can be seen from the southern himisphere as well.
In addition, there are 4 other active meteor showers with lower rates you can see during the night. The Northern and Southern Taurids produce slow meteors from radiants in Aries, the epsilon Geminids and Leo Minorids produce swift meteors from above Gemini, and below Leo respectively.
Of course, there are always sporadic meteors that can come from anywhere.
Once the IMO has their Orionid live report page up, I'll post a link.
Meteor Wayne
Activity has already begun at low levels. In the Northern hemisphere, the radiant doesn't rise until after 10 PM, so the dates I give below will be for the date of the early morning hours after midnight when the highest rates for each night are observed.... i.e after midnight.
The ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) should be over 20 from the morning of the 19th to the morning of the 26th. Based on the last two years, the peak time should be close to dawn on the morning of the 21st for the US, with the west coast getting closer to the actual peak time. But of course, meteor showers are like a box o' chocolates; you never know what you will see unless you look.
The normal peak ZHR is only about 20, but 2007 saw a high of 70, and last year it was close to 40. Recent mathematical analysis of the orbits of the meteoroids indicates this may be one last year of enhanced rates.
For those who watchg from dark skies (not near a city) the hours right before dawn should allow you to see close to the ZHR count per hour.
The Orionids are cometary debris from Halley's comet inbound toward the sun. The eta Aquarids near May 5th sample the outbound leg. Because the comet (and the ejected meteoroids) are in a retrograde orbit (traveling around the sun in the opposite direction to the planets) we hit them close to head on, at high velocity. They impact the atmosphere at more than 67 km/sec, so they are swift and bright. They appear to come from the area of Orion's oustretched left arm (for those in the northern hemisphere). They can be seen from the southern himisphere as well.
In addition, there are 4 other active meteor showers with lower rates you can see during the night. The Northern and Southern Taurids produce slow meteors from radiants in Aries, the epsilon Geminids and Leo Minorids produce swift meteors from above Gemini, and below Leo respectively.
Of course, there are always sporadic meteors that can come from anywhere.
Once the IMO has their Orionid live report page up, I'll post a link.
Meteor Wayne
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