Shooting Stars On Tap Tonight

The Quadrantids are an annual meteor shower that is a consequence of Earth passing through the debris field of a crumbling comet some 500 years ago.  If you have an opportunity to witness this event - depending upon your location - it has the potential of producing as many as 60 to 200 shooting stars an hour. 

For those of us in North America the Quadrantids will reach its maximum rate of activity tonight - January 3.  Some shooting stars associated with the shower began on January 1^st and will continue thru January 4^th.  It is short-lived yet has big potential.

Observing the show on the peninsula requires a location with little light pollution and a view towards the north-northeast between the North Star and the Big Dipper.  Unfortunately this month's full moon materialized yesterday and its light will interfere with all but the brightest meteors.  The predicted peak for the Quadrantids is just before dawn tomorrow morning when they can produce as many as 100 shooting stars per hour.  Fortunately, this meteor shower is known to produce really bright fireballs that even the moon cannot outshine.    

You do not necessarily need to locate the radiant to observe the meteor shower as the shooting stars will appear in all parts of the night sky.  Viewing prospects for your own location can be found here.

Raising a toast to clear, winter night skies and viewing the heavens...

December Night Sky

Most stargazers consider the reliably prolific Geminid meteor shower the final act for any given year.  Yet, there happens to be one more notable meteor shower on-deck that is frequently overlooked.  

The Ursids.

With 5 to 10 shooting stars per hour the peak of this meteor shower will occur during the overnight hours of December 21-22 as it passes thru the debris field of Comet 8P/Tuttle.   

The Ursids get their name as their radiant is located in the constellation Ursa Minor (Little Bear).  This constellation moves in a circle around Polaris - the North Star.  The New Moon is December 19 so we're assured of dark skies.  Activity can be viewed all night.

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions.

December Night Sky

Before sunrise today.

View west, the constellation Gemini above, top center (two stars at top).  Jupiter (brightest object) upper left of center.

click on image for a closer look

 

Screen shop of star map from Night Sky app.

If you have clear and dark viewing conditions there is more meteor shower action on tap for tonight.

It was pretty cool (pardon the pun) last night. 

-3F around these parts... 

December Night Sky

One of the fun things about winter is the night sky.  Cold, clear, winter skies are characterized by a lack of humidity and if you live in the country there is very little urban light pollution creating some spectacular opportunities for star-gazing. 

December brings a couple of meteor showers to the night skies.  The more prolific of the two is the Geminids with as many as 120 shooting stars per hour.  Shooting stars are most often associated with the Earth’s passage thru the debris field of a comet.  Gritty debris burns-up as it collides with the upper atmosphere.  The Geminids are a bit of a mystery as they are related with an extinct comet which also happens to be a near-earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. 

The Geminid meteor shower began December 4th and will remain active thru the 17th.  It will be producing meteors at its peak rate this Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Each meteor shower is named after its radiant - that point where the shower appears to come from.  In this case the constellation Gemini - The Twins.  A meteor shower's radiant needs to be above the horizon before any of the action begins.  And you don't have to look directly at the radiant to see meteors;  shooting stars will be visible across the sky once the radiant has risen.  

Find the easily recognizable belt of the three bright stars in Orion the Hunter.  From Orion's belt (or from Rigel, his foot, through the belt), follow an imaginary line towards the northeast (up and left).  Continue this line until you see two bright stars close together - Castor and Pollux - the heads of Gemini.

For the duration there will be a chance of seeing Geminid meteors whenever the shower’s radiant point – found in the constellation Gemini – is above the horizon. The number of visible shooting stars increases as the radiant point rises to its highest point in the night sky.   

December also brings the Ursid meteor shower with 5  to 10 shooting stars per hour as the Earth passes thru the debris field of Comet 8P/Tuttle.   

Although not as spectacular as the Geminids peak action coincides with the solstice the evening of the 21^st and 22^nd.  This year the new moon occurs a few days before the Ursids peak, so you'll enjoy dark skies.  Best time is before dawn with 10-15 meteors per hour.  

Mark your calendar and if your catch a cold, clear, winter sky bundle-up and take some time to sit outside and observe the heavens. 

There’s no mosquitoes this time of year! 

November Night Sky

With November comes the Leonid meteor shower. The 2025 Leonids can be observed after midnight between November 6 to 30. The peak display will be the morning of November 16 and 17.  November 18 might be worthwhile too.

The meteors originate when the orbital path of the earth collides with the debris left behind by comets. These bits and pieces of comet detritus enter the earth’s atmosphere with the resulting vaporization creating the streaks of light we call meteors.

The debris associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle results in this November display. Like other meteor showers, this one will be best viewed after midnight. Turn your gaze toward the constellation Leo the Lion, where the shooting stars appear to emanate.

The 2025 Leonids are a moderate meteor shower with a peak display of about 10-15 meteors per hour.  Look to the east to locate Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, dots a backwards question mark of stars known as the Sickle. If you trace all the “shooting stars” from the Leonid meteor shower backward, they appear to radiate from this area of the sky.  Viewing conditions should be good as the moon will be a thin, waning crescent.  Nevertheless, a dark rural location with minimal light pollution may yield good results.

Tempel-Tuttle is a periodic visitor that will return in 2031.  it is worthy of mention that the Leonids can be stunning on rare occasions. With the reappearance of Tempel-Tuttle every 33 years the debris left in its wake can result in meteors up to a rate of 1000 an hour!  2001 was a very good November and 1966 was breathtaking.

The best time for observation is just before dawn after the moon has set. 

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions and early rising if you have to get out of bed to pee.....

 

October Astronomy Reminder

The Orionid Meteor Shower will light up the night sky on October 21 and 22. This event happens every year when Earth passes through the debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.  As these tiny particles enter our atmosphere, they burn up and create bright streaks of light known as meteors.

The Orionids are named after the constellation Orion, because the meteors seem to appear from that part of the sky.  They are known for being fast and bright, often leaving glowing trails that last for several seconds. Under dark skies, you might see up to 20 meteors per hour during the peak.

To watch this event, find a dark location away from city lights. The best viewing time is after midnight and before dawn when the sky is darkest. No special equipment is needed, but letting your eyes adjust to the darkness for about 20 minutes will help you see more meteors.

This meteor shower is one of the most reliable and enjoyable for both beginners and experienced sky watchers. Even if you only see a few, the sight of these natural fireworks across the stars is worth staying up for.

click on image to enlarge

Photo of Constellation Orion Monday morning - view southeast, October 20, at 5 AM. iPhone 14 Pro. 

October Astronomy

The Orionid meteor shower featured in this post originates in the debris left behind by Halley's Comet.  Halley completes a circumnavigation of our sun every 76 years or thereabouts.  It last visited us in 1986 and will return in 2061.  Nevertheless, the dust trail left behind in its path does not disappear and is intercepted every year in late October.

As particulate matter from the debris trail enters our atmosphere it burns-up producing the Orionid meteor shower.  The orbit of the earth is opposite that of the debris (Retrograde is the Word Of The Day) resulting in fast-moving shooting stars.  We also collide with the debris once-again in May which results in the Eta Aquariids meteor show.  Halley is responsible for two meteor shows a year.

The overall duration of this shower is from September 26 to November 22 and is scheduled to peak on the evenings of October 21 with the best opportunities after midnight and before dawn.

This month's New Moon coincides with tomorrow evening.  New moons have no moonlight to clutter your viewing conditions and if you have clear skies viewing conditions could be optimal.  The radiant for the Orionids originates from the constellation Orion the Hunter so fix yourself a cuppa hot cocoa or a glass of Merlot and keep your fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions.

09.15.23 Orion

August Night Sky

While out checking-in on the Perseid Meteor Shower it's pretty hard avoiding all of the moon light clutter from August's Sturgeon Moon... 

 

August Night Sky

One of the more spectacular night viewing events of each year is the arrival of the Perseid meteor shower.  It began July 14 and will continue to September 1.  Peak viewing opportunity is  Monday evening/Tuesday morning.  With ideal viewing conditions you may be able to spot 2-3 meteors per minute!   

Meteor showers occur when the orbit of the earth passes thru space debris left behind by comets and asteroids. These pebble-sized pieces of debris enter our atmosphere and burn-up creating shooting stars.  This particular meteor show is as a consequence of our planet passing thru the debris left over from the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle.  

Take note that this comet completes an orbit around the sun every 133 years and every time it comes back to our neighborhood in the solar system it gets closer to the earth.  If Swift-Tuttle were to hit the earth we’ll all go the way of the dinosaurs!  (Although scientists believe that possibility is probably about 2,000 years from now.)  

The Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus - which appears in the northern hemisphere between the constellations Auriga and Cassiopeia.  Look for them radiating from that location in the northeastern sky.  

The Perseids are bright so if the moon is out try blocking it to improve your viewing.  This shower rises to a peak gradually, then falls off rapidly. And Perseid meteors tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into the wee hours before dawn. The shower is often best just before dawn.

 

Get out the bug spray and keep your fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions and enjoy the show.

Astronomy For May

Every year the earth crosses the orbital path of Halley’s Comet.  As our planet passes thru the debris left behind by the comet some of the detritus burns-up as it reenters the earth's atmosphere with a resulting meteor shower.  Shooting stars! 

 

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is a long-duration shower beginning just after the middle of April and lasting thru the end of May.  It peaks on the evening of May 4-5. 

In case you are traveling the best viewing is in the Southern Hemisphere where it is one of the most prolific showers of the year.  Nevertheless, they can be observed north of the equator with 10 to 30 meteors per hour at peak. 

 

Get yourself comfortable in a lawn chair and allow your eyes 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. 

  

Look to the southeast and the constellation Aquarius – although a shooting star can occur just about anywhere.

In our mid-northern latitudes you can expect to see ten or more meteors per hour.  The late evening hours are the best time to observe earthgrazer fireballs – more meteors that make the long streaks across night sky.  

Fingers-crossed for dark skies and clear viewing conditions.  

 

 

 

 

Short time-lapse video here.  The moon rises at the end of the clip (at the one minute mark) washes-out the night sky.  A terrific example of light pollution washing-out the night sky. 

 

April Astronomy

The month of April brings us the Lyrid Meteor Shower which will reach its peak the evening of April 22-23 before a thick waning crescent moon rising several hours before dawn.

Why is this important?  The early dark sky provides better viewing conditions to observe the Lyrids.

 

This meteor shower is made up of the remains of the Comet Thatcher and could produce up to 10-20 meteors per hour. Your best viewing opportunities begin late night tonight until sunrise on tomorrow.  They're expected to peak in the early morning hours on April 22.  But you can also catch them Saturday night and before sunrise on Sunday.   

Look to the northeast for these shooting stars to originate from the radiant.          

Don't Look Up

On this day in history thirteen years ago a meteor entered the atmosphere above Chelyabinsk Oblast in the southern Ural region of Russia.  It exploded with the force estimated to be more than thirty times that of the nuclear device used on Hiroshima.  

Likely originating from the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter it was estimated to be approximately 60 feet in diameter and 9100 tons.  Its approach to earth was a shallow trajectory with an estimated speed of 43,000 miles per hour.  The blinding light was visible up to 60 miles distant and exploded in an air burst at an altitude of about 18 miles (97,000 feet).  Remarkably, nobody saw it coming as its radiant (direction of approach) was from the sun.  

Even more remarkable, there were no deaths; although, almost 1,500 individuals sought medical treatment for injuries mostly from indirect injuries (broken glass) as a consequence of the shock waves from the blast.  7,200 buildings in six cities across the region were damaged. 

In the aftermath of the air burst a significant number of small meteorites fell in areas west of Chelyabinsk; described as gravel falling from the sky. In 2013 Russian scientists identified a two foot sized chunk buried in the muddy bottom of Lake Chebarkul.  It was recovered, broke the scales used to weigh it and split into three pieces.  

This meteor event is the largest known object to have entered the atmosphere since the Tunguska event in 1908 which destroyed a large forested area in a remote part of Siberia. 

December Night Sky

One of the fun things about winter is the night sky.  Cold, clear, winter skies are characterized by a lack of humidity and if you live in the country there is very little urban light pollution creating some spectacular opportunities for star-gazing.    

December brings a couple of meteor showers to the night skies.  The more prolific of the two is the Geminids with as many as 120 to 160 shooting stars per hour. 

Shooting starts are most often associated with the Earth’s passage thru the debris field of a comet.  The Geminids are a bit of a mystery as they are related with an extinct comet which also happens to be a near-earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. 

EarthSky.org
 

While competition from the light cast by the Cold Moon could be a challenge this is a show you do not want to miss.  The best viewing should start the evening of Friday the 13^th and peak on Saturday evening the 14^th. 

December 17^th to the 26^th brings the Ursid meteor shower with 5  to 10 shooting stars per hour as the Earth passes thru the debris field of Comet 8P/Tuttle.   

EarthSky.org
 

Peak action coincides with the solstice the evening of the 21^st and 22^nd.  Again, there will be competition from persistent moonlight.  Your best opportunity will be before moonrise on Saturday, December  21^st .

Mark your calendar and if your catch a cold, clear, winter sky bundle-up and take some time to sit outside and observe the heavens. 

There’s no mosquitoes this time of year!

What To See In The November Night Sky

With November comes the Leonid meteor shower. The 2024 Leonids will be a reasonably
laid-back affair with the early morning opportunity to observe shooting stars between November 6 to 30. The peak display will be this evening and into tomorrow Sunday morning November 17.

The meteors originate when the orbital path of the earth collides with the debris left behind by
comets. These bits and pieces of comet detritus enter the earth’s atmosphere with the resulting vaporization creating the streaks of light we call meteors.

The debris associated with the repeated passage of the comet Tempel-Tuttle results in this November display.  Like other meteor showers, this one will be best viewed after midnight. Turn your gaze toward the constellation Leo the Lion, where the shooting stars appear to emanate.

The 2024 Leonids are a moderate meteor shower with a peak display of about 10-15 meteors per hour. Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, dots a backwards question mark of stars known as the Sickle. If you trace all the “shooting stars” from the Leonid meteor shower backward, they appear to radiate from this area of the sky.  Interference of moonlight may wash-out many of the meteors visible in a darker sky. Nevertheless, a dark rural location with minimal light pollution may yield good results.

Tempel-Tuttle is a periodic visitor that will return in 2031.  it is worthy of mention that the Leonids can be stunning on rare occasions. With the reappearance of Tempel-Tuttle every 33 years the debris left in its wake can result in meteors up to a rate of 1000 an hour! 2001 was a very good November and 1966 was breathtaking.

Unfortunately, a bright moon is going to shine on your meteor parade all night long competing with the fainter meteors. 

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions and early rising if you have to get out of bed to pee.....

What To See In The November Night Sky

The Northern Taurid meteor shower is active during the months of October 20 thru December 10 every year.  The show should reach its climax tomorrow evening in our hemisphere.

As the earth passes through the debris of Comet 2P/Encke the Taurids are better known for their brightness rather than their volume.  Peak viewing should be the evenings of November 11 and 12.

The best opportunity to view should be before and after midnight.  Look for the shower to appear near the Pleiades stars cluster located in the constellation Taurus.  If you can stay up late the best viewing is after the moon sets in the early morning hours. 

The Northern Taurids shower typically brings about five meteors per hour (give or take) at its peak.  What they lack in volume they make-up for in size.  The larger debris particles often produce fireballs of various colors that are capable of burning-thru the moonlight in the earlier hours.

October Night Skies

The Orionid meteor shower featured in this post originates in the debris left behind by Halley's Comet.  Halley completes a circumnavigation of our sun every 76 years or thereabouts.  It last visited us in 1986 and will return in 2061.  Nevertheless, the dust trail left behind in its path does not disappear and is intercepted every year in late October.

As particulate matter from the debris trail enters our atmosphere it burns-up producing the Orionid meteor shower.  The orbit of the earth is opposite that of the debris (Retrograde is the Word Of The Day) resulting in fast-moving shooting stars.  We also collide with the debris once-again in May which results in the Eta Aquariids meteor show.  Halley is responsible for two meteor shows a year.

The overall duration of this shower is from September 26 to November 22 and is scheduled to peak on the evenings of October 20 and 21 with the best opportunities after midnight and before dawn.

The radiant for the Orionids originates from the constellation Orion the Hunter so fix yourself a cuppa hot cocoa or a glass of Merlot and keep your fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions.

09.15.23 Orion

Two For The Price Of One

Last evening I went out around 10 PM or thereabouts to check on the Perseid meteor shower.  I scored about a half-dozen shooters when I was paying attention. Most of the time I was fiddling with the app filters on my iPhone in an attempt to deal with the clutter of light pollution low on the north-northeast horizon.  I swear, Sturgeon Bay must've had every last damn light turned-on.  Such is tourist season.  Sigh.

If you look at this photo locate Cassiopeia in the lower right corner.  Move left and down a bit and that would be the radiant from which the Perseids originate.   Too be fair, at their height they can materialize just about anywhere.  Fingers-crossed for dark skies this evening if you want to have a go at it.

click on image for a closer look

At 12:30 AM I figured I'd take one last gander at the Perseids before hitting the sack.  I was met with this.  A spectacular display of the northern lights.  Yowza!

 

 

All I gotta say is that this was a pretty good evening for looking at the night skies.  Two for the price of one!

The Perseids will be hanging-around tonight.  Maybe the Aurora Borealis will be back too.

Dark skies!

August Night Sky

The Perseid happens to be the most spectacular Meteor Shower of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. The Perseid presents a high rate of meteors every year and it occurs in August when you can go out for an evening under the stars and swat mosquitoes.  

Orbiting the sun every 130 years the largest object known to repeatedly pass by Earth is the Comet Swift-Tuttle.  The nucleus of the comet is about 26 kilometers wide.  1992 was the last time it passed nearby Earth during its orbit around the sun.  Swift-Tuttle will return after we’re all dead and gone in 2126.

Nevertheless, because Earth passes through the dust and debris it leaves behind every year - it creates the annual Perseid meteor shower – and we have regular reminders.  This year should be a good year.

click on the sun to enlarge

Watching the meteor shower is actually observing the pieces of comet debris heat up as they enter the atmosphere and burn up in a bright streak of light.  In outer space this debris is referred to as meteoroids.  When they enter and burn-up in Earth's atmosphere they're referred to as meteors.   If a piece makes it all the way down to Earth without burning up, it is called a meteorite.   Most of the meteors in the Perseids are about the size of a grain of sand but if you’re lucky a few might be the size of a pea or a marble.

The Perseids will be active from around August 11 thru the August 13.  Maximum activity is predicted to occur on the early morning of August 12, when rates in excess of 1 per minute may be seen from skies without any light pollution.

 

You can learn more about the Perseids here.

 

 

What To See In The May Night Sky

Every year the earth crosses the orbital path of Halley’s Comet.  As our planet passes thru the debris left behind by the comet some of the detritus burns-up as it reenters the earth's atmosphere with a resulting meteor shower.  Shooting stars! 

 

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower for 2024 is active between April 15 and May 27 and peaks on the evening of May 4-5. The is close to the timing of a new moon so unlike the full moon last year there will less interference of moonlight for meteor hunters.  

in case you are traveling the best viewing is in the Southern Hemisphere where it is one of the most prolific showers of the year.  Nevertheless, they can be observed north of the equator with 10 to 30 meteors per hour at peak.  There will be viewing opportunities beginning in the predawn hours starting May 1, 2 and 3. 

Get yourself comfortable in a lawn chair and allow your eyes 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.   

Look to the southeast and the constellation Aquarius – although a shooting star can occur just about anywhere.

In our mid-northern latitudes you can expect to see ten or more meteors per hour.  The late evening hours are the best time to observe earthgrazers – more meteors that make the long streaks across night sky.  

Fingers-crossed for dark skies and clear viewing conditions. 

April Night Sky

The month of April brings us the Lyrid Meteor Shower which will reach its peak the evening of April 21-22.

This meteor shower is made up of the remains of the Comet Thatcher and could produce up to 10-20 meteors per hour. Your best viewing opportunities begin late night tonight until sunrise on tomorrow.  They're expected to peak Sunday and Monday evening although there will be significantly increased meteors beginning tonight and to a lesser extent thru the middle of next week.

Look to the northeast for these shooting stars to originate from the radiant.