[Sky]
The first big celestial event of the year arrives quickly: the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks during the night of 3–4 January. This shower is famous for producing brief outbursts of more than 100 fast, blue meteors per hour, but only for a few hours when Earth slices through the densest part of the debris stream.
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[Sky]
If you still crave meteors after the Geminids, keep your gear handy for the Ursids. This faithful shower peaks on the night of 22 December, just after the solstice, delivering roughly 10 meteors per hour with occasional outbursts when Earth crosses dense filaments shed by Comet 8P/Tuttle. The radiant sits near the Little Dipper’s bowl in Ursa Minor, so it never sets for most Northern Hemisphere observers.
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[Sky]
Clear a spot on your calendar for the Geminid meteor shower, widely regarded as the most reliable display of the year. Activity stretches from 4 to 17 December, and the peak is predicted for the night of 13–14 December with zenithal hourly rates near 120 meteors per hour under dark skies.
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[Sky]
The Leonid Meteor Shower is an annual celestial event awaited by stargazers. The Leonid Meteor Shower is named after the constellation Leo, from where the meteors appear to emanate. It occurs when Earth crosses the debris trail left by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This event is known for its bright meteors and persistent trails left in the sky, providing a spectacular view for observers.
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[Sky]
Perseids starfall from 10 to 20 August. Already next week, starting from August 10, it will be possible to observe the famous Perseids starfall in the night sky. The Perseids are numerous tail particles of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. It last approached the Earth in 1992. The peak of the starfall activity will take place on August 12-13.
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[Sky]
Late July meteor shower — don’t miss it! A meteor shower of Southern Delta Aquarids is expected to get the maximum force in the night sky on July 30. Scientists believe that the number of meteors can reach 25 per hour, and one will be able to observe them with the naked eye, provided the night is cloudless.
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[Sky]
In the first dates of May we will be able to watch the Eta Aquariids Starfall. The peak of its activity will be on May 6-7, but overall the shower is visible from about April 19 to about May 28 each year. It will be seen brighter in the Southern Hemisphere, although the residents of the Northern half of the Earth will also be able to watch the starfall.
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[Sky]
Just as the Southern branch winds down, the Northern Taurids take over the night sky. Activity extends from 13 October to 2 December, but the peak is expected around 12 November when Earth meets the densest stream of dust from Comet 2P/Encke. The hourly rate tops out near 15, yet observers treasure the shower for its slow, brilliant meteors that seem to crawl across Taurus.
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[Sky]
The Southern Taurids keep autumn observers entertained with slow, persistent meteors from late September through mid-November. The shower usually peaks around 5 November with a modest zenithal hourly rate near 10, but the reward is quality over quantity: glowing fireballs flare often as large cometary grains burn up above Earth.
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[Sky]
Another meteor shower this week. On October 8, 2020 the maximum effect of the Draconid meteor shower is expected. The coordinates of the radiant during its maximum are as follows: alpha - 262 degrees, delta - + 56 degrees. Ideal time for observations: October 8 at 20:00 UT, as well as October 9 at 4:00 UT and from 9.
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