Predictions & Information

Please report your observations to be included in the η-Aquariids Visual Data Quicklook Page.

A fine, rich stream associated with Comet 1P/Halley, like the Orionids of October, but one visible for only a few hours before dawn, essentially from tropical and southern hemisphere sites. Some useful results have come even from sites around 40° N latitude in recent years however, and occasional meteors have been reported from further north, but the shower would benefit from increased observer activity generally. The fast and often bright meteors make the wait for radiant-rise worthwhile, and many events leave glowing persistent trains after them. While the radiant is still low, η-Aquariids tend to have very long paths, which can mean observers underestimate the angular speeds of the meteors, so extra care is needed when making such reports.

The radiant area is located in northern Aquarius, close to the fourth magnitude star Gamma Aquarii. The best time to view this activity is just before the start of morning twilight, when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. No matter your location these meteors will appear from the eastern sky and shoot in all directions. If the radiant has sufficient altitude Eta Aquariid meteors can also be seen shooting down toward the eastern horizon. With an entry velocity of 66 kilometers per second, a majority of these meteors will appear to move swiftly with a high percentage of the bright meteors leaving persistent trains.

Please report your observations to be included in the Quadrantids Visual Data Quicklook Page.

The maximum of the 2008 Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to occur near January 4, 7h UT. The Moon is almost new and rises together with Venus in the last observing hour. Western Europe and eastern North America are best suited for observing the peak.

This meteor shower can show maximum corrected rates (Zenithal Hourly Rates - ZHR) for as long as 6 hours, as was shown in 1992 for example. ZHRs may be well above 100, but the peak level varies from year to year. You can expect realistic rates of about one meteor per minute from dark locations.

This poorly observed shower showed enhanced activity quite a few times over the last decades and has produced at least two real outbursts. An international team led by Peter Jenniskens predicts a new outburst for this year, peaking at 20h - 22h15 UT on December 22 with a full-width at half peak intensity of about 2 - 8.5 hours (most likely around 5 hours). The timing and the location of the radiant favours locations in Europe and Asia. The ZHR is expected to reach up to 40 - 80, or up to 8 times normal activity. If the outburst materializes, you can realistically expect to see one meteor every two minutes from dark locations.

Although it is almost full moon, observations using any method are encouraged. Visual observations can be reported using the electronic report form to be included in the Ursids Visual Data Quicklook Page.

For more information on the predictions, check the NASA AMES research center website.

Report your observations to be included in the Geminids Visual Data Quicklook Page.

The Geminids is one of the finest, and probably the most reliable, of the major annual showers presently observable. This year, the waxing crescent Moon will set by mid- evening across the globe on December 14 (the actual moonset timing is progressively later the further south you are), giving mostly dark skies for all observers, especially those in the northern hemisphere. The maximum is predicted for 16h45m UT on December 14, with the more reliably-observed maxima during the past two decades all having occurred within 2h20m of the predicted maximum.

The Geminid radiant culminates around 2h local time, but well north of the equator it rises around sunset, and is at a usable elevation from the local evening hours onwards, while in the southern hemisphere, the radiant appears only around local midnight or so. Even from more southerly sites, this is a splendid stream of often bright, medium-speed meteors, a rewarding sight for all watchers, whatever method they employ.