2009 Meteor Shower Guide

January 3, 2009 Quadrantids
With the moon setting at or near midnight, this should be a favorable year for the Quadrantid shower. The greatest number of meteors are expected to fall before dawn on January 3 for North American observers. Although the Quadrantids can produce over 100 meteors per hour, the sharp peak only lasts for an hour or two, and doesn’t always peak during the nighttime hours. Face the general direction of north-northeast, but take in as wide an expanse of sky as possible. The forecast calls for the night of January 2-3, with the few hours immediately before dawn on January 3 to present the best viewing. Far northern and western parts of North America are especially favored.

April 22, 2009 Lyrids
Lyrid meteors tend to be bright and often leave trails. About 10-20 meteors per hour at peak are to be expected. Uncommon surges can sometimes bring the rate up to 100 per hour, but these rather rare outbursts are not easy to predict. That’s one of the reasons why the tantalizing Lyrids are worth watching. The radiant is in the constellation Lyra, which rises in the northeast at about 10 p.m. Fortunately the thin waning crescent moon won’t obtrude on this year’s Lyrid shower. The Lyrids typically produce the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn. The best viewing night should be between midnight and dawn on Wednesday, April 22. But a day or two before and after the peak date may offer a decent sprinkling of meteors too.

May 5, 6 and 7, 2009 Eta Aquarids
The shower has a relatively broad maximum but is expected to peak shortly before dawn on May 5 or 6. Although a waxing gibbous moon lights up most of the night, it’s not really a factor. This is strictly a predawn shower, not to take stage till after moonset! The radiant for this shower appears in the east-southeast at about 4 a.m. and the hour or two before dawn is the preferred viewing time. For the mid-northern latitudes, the rates for this shower are only about 10 to 15 per hour at maximum. Farther south, the meteor numbers increase dramatically. The broad peak to this shower means that some meteors may be seen a few days before and after the optimal date. The best time to watch is May 5 or 6 before dawn. But you’ll see some meteors before dawn on May 7 as well.

July 28, 2009 Delta Aquarids
Once again, this shower favors the southern hemisphere, and the tropical latitudes in the northern hemisphere. From northern temperate latitudes, the maximum hourly rate may reach 15-20 meteors. Like most meteor showers, the best observing for this shower is before dawn. Unlike most meteor showers, this one doesn’t have a very definite peak, despite the date given above. Instead, these medium-speed meteors ramble along fairly steadily throughout late July and early August. The waxing gibbous moon around the peak of the Delta Aquarids won’t really tarnish the luster of these fainter than average meteors, because the shower is best after moonset – or in the wee hours before dawn. An hour or two before dawn presents the most favorable view of the Delta Aquarids. Because the peak of the Delta Aquarid shower is so broad, the expected meteor rates (15-20 per hour) may be about the same from July 28-30. The meteors will appear to radiate from the southern part of the sky.

August 12, 2009 Perseids
And when we say August 12, we mean that morning … not that night. These typically fast and bright meteors radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus, and, like all meteors in annual showers, they cover a large part of the sky. The Perseids are considered by many people to be the year’s best shower when the moon is out of the way during the shower’s peak. Unfortnately, this year’s moon is not totally out of the way during the Perseids. The slightly waning gibbous moon rises around midnight – just as the Perseids start to pick up steam. Nonetheless, you should be able to catch some Perseid meteors before moonrise – and even after . The Perseids tend to strengthen in number as midnight ebbs toward dawn. Although not a favorable year, these meteors are often bright and frequently leave persistent trains. What’s more, enhanced activity may be in the works, so perhaps enough brighter meteors can overcome the moonlit glare to make this year’s production worthwhile. From late night on Tuesday, August 11 till dawn on Wednsday, August 12, a decent sprinkling of Perseid meteors may adorn this summer night, despite the pesky moon. Lie back and watch meteors until dawn’s light washes the stars, moon and planets from the sky.

October 7, 8, 2009 Draconids
The radiant point of the Draconid meteor shower almost coincides with the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon, in the northern sky. That’s why it is best viewed from the northern hemisphere. This shower is a real oddity, in the respect that its radiant point is highest in the sky as darkness falls. The shower is definitely a sleeper, producing only a handful of languid meteors per hour in most years. But watch out if the dragon awakes! On occasion, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth hundreds – if not thousands – of meteors in a single hour. Since the waning gibbous moon won’t rise till night late, the evening hours provide some cover of darkness for observing these meteors. Unlike most meteor showers, more Draconid meteors are likely to fly in the evening than in the morning hours after midnight. This hard-to-predict shower is not predicted to have increased activity in 2009. Look northward for the very slow-moving Draconid meteors on the evenings of October 7, 8 and 9. October 7 and 8 are likely the better bets.

October 21, 2009 Orionids
These meteors tend to be fast, occasionally leaving persistent trains and producing bright fireballs. They exhibit a maximum of about 15 meteors per hour. If you trace these meteors backwards, they seem to originate from the north of Orion’s bright ruddy star Betelgeuse. The Orionids have a broad and irregular peak that is difficult to predict. Fortunately, it will be only a few days past new moon, ensuring dark skies for this year’s Orionid shower. More meteors tend to fly after midnight, and the Orionids are typically at their best in the wee hours before dawn. The best viewing time will probably be one to two hours before dawn on October 21. However, this shower is known to have several maxima which are not especially predictable, so a few days before or after the expected peak may offer a good meteor display.

November 5, 2008 South Taurids
The South (and North) Taurids are perhaps best suited to diehard meteor enthusiasts. The meteoroid stream that feeds the Taurids is very spread out and dissipated. That means the South Taurids are extremely long lasting (September 17 – November 27), but usually don’t offer a whole lot more than a sprinkling of meteors, even on the expected peak date of November 5. Unfortunately, the bright waning-gibbous moon does not bode well for this year’s shower. Although the greatest number of meteors fall around one or two in the morning, the South Taurids are probably a wash in 2009.

November 12, 2009 North Taurids
Like the South Taurids, this shower is long lasting (October 12 – December 2) but modest, and the peak number is forecast at about 7 meteors per hour. Because the South and North Taurids overlap, there’s some chance of catching a few extra meteors in the mix. Typically, you see the maximum numbers at around 1 a.m., when Taurus the Bull rides high in the sky. This year, the waning crescent moon is a minor annoyance at most, making 2009 a favorable year for the North Taurids. Expect to see the greatest numbers at late night and after midnight on the night November 11-12, though a few days before and after may offer good viewing as well.

November 17, 18, 2009 Leonids
Historically, the Leonids have produced some of the greatest meteor storms in history, with rates as high as many thousands of meteors per hour. These storms often recur in cycles of 33 years. During the last several years, we have seen more of a whimper than a growl from Leo the Lion, with a maximum of perhaps 10-15 meteors per hour. In 2009, astrronomers are anticipating on the possibility of a stronger return, with perhaps double the number of meteors – or maybe even a meteor storm. (Astronomers hasten to remind us: there are no guarantees!) But with the new moon falling on November 16, we’re guaranteed of dark skies, so the 2009 Leonid display is well worth checking out. Like the October Orionids, the Leonids tend to pick up steam after midnight and to put out the greatest meteor numbers just before dawn. Watch for these extremely swift, often bright Leonid meteors (half of which leave persistent trains!) between midnight and dawn on November 17 and 18.

December 14, 2009 Geminids
This year is favorable for the Geminids, the year’s grand finale. As a general rule, it’s either the Geminids or the August Perseids that give us the most prolific meteor display of the year. Unlike many meteor showers, you can start watching for the Geminids around 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., although this shower tends to gain strength after midnight and to climax at roughly 2:00 in the morning. With maximums commonly reaching 50 meteors per hour, this is a glorious time of year to sprawl out on your reclining lawn chair and to take in the show. Just be sure to bring along warm clothing, blankets or sleeping bags, and a thermos with a warm beverage. With an exceedingly thin waning crescent moon to rise at or shortly before dawn, the stage is set for a dark sky and a grand Geminid display. The best viewing of these often bright, medium-speed meteors should be from late night December 13 till dawn December 14.

Tips for watching meteors

Here’s the first thing – the main thing – you need to know to become as proficient as the experts at watching meteors. That is, to watch meteors, you need a dark sky.

You also need to be looking at the right time. Meteor showers occur over a range of dates, as Earth moves through space, crossing “meteor streams.” These streams of icy particles in space come from comets moving in orbit around the sun. Comets are fragile icy bodies that litter their orbits with debris. When this cometary debris enters our atmosphere, it vaporizes due to friction with the air. If moonlight or city lights don’t obscure the view, we on Earth see the falling, vaporizing particles as meteors.

Although astronomers have tried to publish exact predictions in recent years, meteor showers remain notoriously unpredictable. Your best bet is to go outside at the times we suggest, and plan to spend at least an hour reclining comfortably while looking up at the sky.

In 2009, the moon gets in the way of the most celebrated shower, the August Perseids. But the shower may be worth watching anyway. Moon-free showers include the April Lyrids, October Orionids, November North Taurids, November Leonids, and December Geminids.