Here we present the list of meteor showers expected to be active this upcoming week. Most of these showers are very weak, only producing a few meteors each night. Still, many thousands of years ago, they may have been part of a strong shower that graced the skies of our planet. Their orbit may have shifted away from the Earth or perhaps the parent comet or asteroid lost all of its interplanetary dust, depriving it of producing meteoroids that encounter the Earth. These weak showers are just strong enough to be recognized by their similar orbits and appearance during the same time each year. If you are like me, I would rather categorize each meteor I see rather than call it a random meteor. Since we know the characteristics of these weak showers, we can be on the lookout for any of their members. Still, most of the activity we see cannot be categorized as they have become dispersed through the years. No meteor is a true sporadic, but reluctantly, we must categorize any meteor not from a recognized shower as random. There are still discoveries of new showers that just now begin to encounter the Earth''s orbit. They may be the beginning of an annual shower or just a clump of inter planetary dust that encounters the Earth, not to return for many years. Video cameras make most of the discoveries these days, but they have limits that cannot match the human eye. This is why we encourage observers to monitor these showers and to expand our knowledge of them.
In these weekly meteor activity outlooks, if viewing conditions are favorable, a detailed list of active radiants is provided. For those not familiar with celestial coordinates, charts are provided for the evening skies, near midnight, and morning skies. While some radiants may appear close to each other on the charts, once under the night sky you will be able to see that they are spaced out and easy to discern from one another. These charts are exact for latitude 40 north, but are usable for most of the northern hemisphere. There are also charts available for the southern hemisphere that are available upon request.
Meteor observing is an enjoyable pastime that can be shared in groups. No instruments are necessary as your eyes are a wonderful meteor detector. Like fireworks displays, most folks just enjoy the show. But inspired observers can do real science by counting the number of meteors you see and categorizing them. It takes some practice, but in no time at all will you be able to tell a Perseid meteor from an alpha Capricornid and give its magnitude (brightness) and other parameters that interest you. If you are interested in joining us in this endeavor, contact the Meteors Section Coordinator.
Viewing the Perseid Meteor shower in 2024
8/10/2024
Viewing the Perseid Meteor shower in 2024
Comet Dust
Each July and August the Earth encounters debris left behind from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. This comet has an orbit of 133 years and last entered the inner solar system in 1992. Even though the comet now lies in the outer portions of the solar system, far away from Earth, we still encounter debris that has been left behind during the many trips this comet has made through the solar system.
This meteor shower is perhaps the most popular as it is active during the summer months in the northern hemisphere. There are stronger meteor showers but they appear during the colder time of year in the northern hemisphere when conditions are less inviting. The strength of each Perseid display varies year to year, mainly due to lunar conditions. If a bright moon is above the horizon during the night of maximum activity, then the display will be reduced. Most of the Perseid meteors are faint and bright moonlight will make it difficult to view. Such was the case in 2022 when a bright full moon spoiled the display. In 2024, a half-illuminated moon will have set by midnight, allowing dark skies to prevail the remainder of the night. This will make evening viewing difficult as faint meteors may be obscured by moonlight. After moonset, only local light pollution and clouds will reduce the number of meteors you will see.
August 11th / 12th
The Perseid maximum is expected to occur between the hours 13-16 Universal Time on August 12th. To view the Perseids at their best, you need to know when to watch. During the evening hours the radiant, the area of the sky where Perseid meteors shoot from, is located low in the northern sky. This is the worst time to try and view the shower for sheer numbers as most of the activity will occur beyond your line of sight, being blocked by the horizon. The few that do come your way this time of night are special. The reason is that they just skim the upper regions of the atmosphere and will last much longer than Perseids seen during the morning hours. Since they last longer they also will travel a much longer distance across the sky. Most of these "earthgrazing" Perseids will be seen low in the east or west, traveling north to south. Occasionally one will pass overhead and will be unforgettable as you watch it shoot across the sky for several seconds. While these meteors are few, they are certainly worth the effort to try and catch. This year though there will be a half-illuminated moon in the sky during the evening hours. This will further reduce the number of meteors seen.
As the Earth rotates and the time approaches local midnight, the Perseid radiant has risen higher into the northeastern sky. The meteors are now shorter and last only a few tenths of a second. You still only see about half of the actual activity as the remainder still occur beyond your line of sight below the horizon. As the morning progresses, the activity will increase as the radiant climbs higher into the sky. Theoretically, the best time to watch the Perseids is just before the break of dawn when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. This is usually around 04:00 local daylight saving time. Experienced observers often say the hour between 03:00 and 04:00 is usually the best, not 04:00 to 05:00. Perhaps this is due to fatigue as observers have watched for several hours by then and may have trouble staying alert.
On Sunday night/Monday morning August 11/12, the Earth will pass closest to the core orbit of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. This is when the strongest rates occur. If this time coincides with the early morning hours at your location, you are in for quite a show. In 2024, the expected time of maximum will occur between the hours 13-16 Universal Time on August 12th. This corresponds to 9am-noon EDT and 6-9am PDT on the morning of August 12th. This timing is during the late afternoon for Europe and the daylight morning hours for North America. If you cannot observe on that night activity will still be good on the nights prior and after maximum. The further you watch from August 13th, the weaker the display will be. To view the Perseids successfully, it is suggested you watch from a safe rural area that is as dark as possible. The more stars you can see, the more meteors will also be visible. No matter the time of night, Perseid meteors can be seen in all portions of the sky. It is advisable to aim your center of view about half-way up in you darkest direction away from lights and obstacles such as hills and trees. Don't look straight up as more activity is visible at lower elevations. Some observers like to view toward the constellation Perseus and the radiant. This way they can see Perseid meteors travel in all directions. The disadvantage of viewing in this direction is that the Perseid meteors will be short, especially near the radiant. The other choice is to face away from the radiant and witness longer meteors, which are more impressive. Many of the brighter Perseids will leave behind persistent trains which appear like smoke trails. Most of these trains only last a second or two but those lasting longer can appear to twist and turn as the winds in the upper atmosphere distort them. These trains are actually not smoke, but are the result of the meteor's quick passage through the atmosphere where the air molecules are ionized, creating the glow we see as a smoky streak after the meteor has disappeared.
Not all meteors seen will be Perseids. There are minor showers active at this time that produce around 5 meteors per hour. There are also random meteors, not associated with any recognizable shower, that contribute up to 10 meteors per hour. These meteors are easily distinguished from the Perseids as they move in other directions compared to the Perseids and are usually slower. All Perseids, no matter where they appear in the sky, will trace back to the area of the radiant in the constellation of Perseus (see illustration below).
Position of the Radiant on August 12th
Share!
Viewing this meteor shower is fun, but one can also contribute useful scientific data on each meteor you see. We encourage observers to contribute data by counting the number of meteors seen during a specific time range and sharing that data with us. A period of at least an hour is suggested as meteor displays are notoriously variable. One can watch for 10 minutes and see no activity at all! Just a few minutes later several meteors may appear nearly simultaneously. To even out these "peaks and valleys" is why we ask for viewing periods of at least an hour. Not all meteors you see will be Perseids. There are other weak showers active during the Perseids plus there are many random meteors that occur each hour too. Separating these different meteors adds to the value of your data. It is also important to estimate the faintest star you can easily see by reporting a limiting magnitude. The faintest stars most observers can see from a rural location is around magnitude +6.0. Very dark sites can approach +7.0. Light polluted skies and skies with bright moonlight usually offer limiting magnitudes of +5.0 and lower. An estimate of your limiting magnitude will allow us to correct your data to a similar limiting magnitude so that all counts will be compared under similar conditions. Don't forget to mention any clouds or obstacles that block your field of view. These will reduce your counts.
Blank meteor forms for your personal data are available here. To share your data You may submit forms to the Meteors Section via email or regular mail. Another way to comtribute to the global study of meteor activity would be to fill out an observing form on the website of the International Meteor Organization, a partner with the ALPO Meteors Section in meteor observations . You will need to register here, which is free. This will give you a lifetime profile page where your data is stored. Once you have a profile page you will have access to uploading you data on a summary page. We monitor observations shared with the IMO and you can too by visiting the Visual Campaigns.
The bottom line is to have fun watching nature's fireworks. If you can have fun and contribute data too, that helps us understand more about this phenomena.
Radiant Positions at 22:00 Local
Daylight-Saving Time
Radiant Positions at 01:00 Local
Daylight-Saving Time
Radiant Positions at 04:00 Local
Daylight-Saving Time
These
sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week
The August xi Draconids (AXD) was discovered by Masahiro
Koseki in his study of SonotaCo video observations 2007–2018. These
meteors were long considered part of the kappa Cygnids but Koseki states
that they are clearly distinct*. This stream is active from August 4-28
with maximum activity occurring on the 15th. The radiant is currently
located at 18:29 (277) +50, which places it in southeastern Draco, 4
degrees southeast of the 2nd magnitude star known as Eltanin
(gamma Draconis). To best see these meteors, face low toward the north
near 2200 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the
sky. With an entry velocity of 20 km/sec., the average August Draconid
meteor would be of slow velocity. Rates this week are expected to be less
than 1 no matter your location. Due to the high northern declination these
meteors are difficult to observe from the southern hemisphere. *The
activity of meteor showers recorded by SonotaCo video observations
2007–2018, Masahiro Koseki, 2021, Page 147.
The kappa Cygnids (KCG) are active from August 1-27,
with maximum occurring on the 14th. The radiant is currently
located at 19:00 (285) +49. This area of the sky is located in
southeastern Draco, 7 degrees northwest of the 3rd magnitude star known as
Fawaris, (delta Cygni A). To best see these meteors face low toward the
north near 2200 LST when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in
the sky. With a high northern declination, these meteors are difficult to
view from the southern hemisphere. Expected hourly rates this week are
less than 1 no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 22 km/sec.,
the average meteor from this source would be of slow velocity.
The alpha Capricornids (CAP) are active from July 7
through August 15, peaking on July 31st. The radiant is
currently located at 20:49 (312) -06. This position lies in western
Aquarius, 1 degree southeast of the 4th magnitude star known as
3 Aquarii. Current rates are expected to be near 1 per hour no matter your
location. These meteors are best seen near midnight LST, when the radiant
lies highest in the northern sky. With an entry velocity of 20 km/sec.,
the average meteor from this source would be of medium-slow velocity.
The large Anthelion (ANT) radiant is currently centered
at 22:04 (331) -12. This position lies in eastern Capricornus, 2 degrees
north of the 4th magnitude star known as iota Aquarii. This location is
fairly close to the alpha Capricornid radiant so care should be taken when
reporting these meteors. This radiant is best placed near 01:00 LST when
it lies on the meridian and is highest in the northern sky. Rates at this
time should be near 1 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 2
as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec.,
the average Anthelion meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.
The Northern delta Aquariids (NDA) are
a conglomeration of at least two weak radiants that peak 10 days apart.
These meteors were first mentioned by Luigi G. Jacchia in his book The
Moon, Meteorites and Comets. The NDA’s are active from August 2-17,
with the first peak occurring on the 12th. The radiant currently is
located near 23:02 (345) +01. This area of the sky is located in western
Pisces, 3 degrees south of the 4th magnitude star known as Fumalsamakah
(beta Piscium). To best see these meteors look high in the northern sky
near 0200 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the
sky. Hourly rates at this time should be less than 1 no matter your
location. With an entry velocity of 40 km/sec., the average meteor from
this source would be of medium velocity.
The Southern delta Aquariids (SDA) are still active from
a radiant located at 23:14 (349) -14. This area of the sky is located in
central Aquarius, 4 degrees northeast of the 3rd magnitude star known as
Skat (delta Aquarii). This radiant is best placed near 0300 LST, when it
lies on the meridian and is located highest in the northern sky. Hourly
rates at this time should be near 1 as seen from the northern hemisphere
and near 2 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity
of 39 km/sec., the average meteor from this source would be of medium
velocity. The Piscids Austrinids (PAU) are an obscure
shower, not well seen from the northern hemisphere. Recent studies by the
IMO Video Network shows little activity. Other studies have indicated that
this shower is active later than previously thought. We will go along with
that idea until more information is available. It is now thought that this
radiant is active from August 1st through the 10th, with
maximum activity occurring on the 8th. Using these parameters, the current
position of the radiant would be 23:46 (356) -19. This area of the sky is
located in southeastern Aquarius, just south of a little group of faint
stars known as 103-108 Aquarii (105 is not included). To best see these
meteors look high in the sky near 03:00 LST, when it lies highest in the
sky. Current hourly rates should be less than 1 no matter your location.
With an entry velocity of 43km/sec., most activity from this radiant would
be of medium velocities.
The eta Eridanids (ERI) are active from a radiant near
03:01 (045) -11. This position lies in northwestern Eridanus, 2 degrees
southeast of the 4th magnitude star known as Azha (eta Eridani). This
source is active until September 10th, with maximum activity
occurring on August 7th. Current rates are expected to be near
1 per hour no matter your location. These meteors are best seen during the
last dark hour prior to dawn when the radiant lies highest above the
southeastern horizon in a dark sky. With an entry velocity of 64 km/sec.,
the average meteor from this source would be of swift speed.
The Perseids (PER) are active from a radiant located at
03:06 (047) +58. This position lies in northwestern Perseus, 3 degrees
northwest of the 4th magnitude star known as Miram (eta Persei). This area
of the sky is best placed for viewing during the last dark hour before
dawn when it lies highest in the northern sky. Current hourly rates are
expected to be near 25 as seen from the northern hemisphere and 5 as seen
from the southern tropics. With an entry velocity of 59 km/sec., the
average meteor from this source would be of swift velocity. Viewers in the
southern hemisphere have a limited view of this shower as the radiant only
rises just before dawn. Sporadic meteors are those meteors that cannot be
associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers are evolving
and disperse over time to the point where they are no longer recognizable.
Away from the peaks of the major annual showers, these sporadic meteors
make up the bulk of the activity seen each night. As seen from the
mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see during this period
approximately 14 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before
dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 3 per
hour. As seen from the tropical southern latitudes (25S), morning rates
would be near 9 per hour as seen from rural observing sites and 2 per hour
during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see
activity between these listed figures. Evening rates are reduced due to
moonlight. The list below offers the information in tabular form of the
showers that I feel are within reach of the visual observer to discern.
Hourly rates are often less than one, so these sources are rarely listed
as visual targets in most meteor shower lists. If you are like me and wish
to associate as many meteors as possible with known sources, then you will
appreciate these listings. Before listing meteors from these obscure
sources, you should attempt to prove these meteors belong to them and are
not chance alignments of sporadic meteors. You can note parameters such as
duration, length, radiant distance and the elevation of each meteor to
help compute the probability of shower association. It should be
remembered that slow meteors can be seen from fast showers, but fast
meteors cannot be produced from slow showers. Slower showers are those
with velocities less than 35/km per second. Slow meteors can appear from
fast showers when they appear close to the radiant or low in the sky. The
table located on page 22 of the IMO’s 2024 Meteor Shower Calendar is
a big help in aiding in the identification of meteors. If you record the
length and duration of each meteor, you can use this chart to check the
probability of the meteor belonging to a shower of known velocity. If the
angular velocity is similar to the figure in the table, then your meteor
probably belongs to that shower. Rates and positions are exact for
Saturday night/Sunday morning.
SHOWER
DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY
CELESTIAL POSITION
ENTRY VELOCITY
CULMINATION
HOURLY RATE
CLASS
RA (RA in Deg.) DEC
Km/Sec
Local Daylight-Saving Time
North-South
August xi Draconids (AXD)
Aug 15
18:29 (277) +50
20
23:00
<1 - <1
IV
kappa Cygnids (KCG)
Aug 13
19:00 (285) +49
22
23:00
<1 - <1
II
alpha Capricornids (CAP)
Jul 31
20:49 (312) -06
21
01:00
1 -1
II
Anthelions (ANT)
-
21:36 (324) -14
30
02:00
1 - 2
II
Northern delta Aquariids (NDA)
Aug 12
23:02 (345) +01
40
03:00
<1 - <1
IV
Southern delta Aquariids (SDA)
Jul 30
23:14 (349) -14
39
03:00
1 - 2
I
Piscids Austrinids (PAU)
Aug 08
23:46 (356) -19
43
04:00
<1 - <1
IV
eta Eridanids (ERI)
Aug 06
03:01 (045) -11
64
07:00
1 - 1
II
Perseids (PER)
Aug 12
03:06 (047) +58
59
07:00
25 - 5
I
You can keep track of the activity of these meteor showers as well as
those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal. You can
move the sky globe to see different areas of the sky. Colored dots
indicate shower meteors while white dots indicate sporadic (random)
activity. The large orange disk indicates the position of the sun so
little activity will be seen in that area of the sky. Class
Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their
intensity:
Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith
Hourly Rates normally ten or better.
Class II: reliable minor showers with ZHR’s
normally two to ten.
Class III: showers that do not provide annual
activity. These showers are rarely active yet have the potential to
produce a major display on occasion.
Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s rarely
exceeding two. The study of these showers is best left to experienced
observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to determine
shower association. These weak showers are also good targets for video
and photographic work. Observers with less experience are urged to
limit their shower associations to showers with a rating of I to III.
Meteor Activity Outlook August 3-9
8/2/2024
This post discusses the expected meteor activity and lunar conditions for the upcoming week. It is focused on North American latitudes but may be used in all locations. Sky charts displaying current radiant positions are provided for early evening hours, mid-night, and the hour prior to dawn. European readers may wish to use the charts in the same article at www.imo.net for better accuracy.
Meteor Activity Outlooks for observers in the southern hemisphere are available upon request at: lunro.imo.usa@cox.net
Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
ALPO Meteors Section Coordinator
Meteor Activity Outlook July 27 - Aug 2
7/26/2024
This post discusses the expected meteor activity and lunar conditions for the upcoming week. It is focused on North American latitudes but may be used in all locations. Sky charts displaying current radiant positions are provided for early evening hours, mid-night, and the hour prior to dawn. European readers may wish to use the charts in the same article at www.imo.net for better accuracy.
Position of the Radiant on August 12th
