Meteor Activity Outlook for 29 November – 5 December 2025

During this period, the Moon reaches its full phase on Friday, December 5th. On that date, the moon will be located opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours and allow a small window of opportunity to view meteor activity between moon set and dawn.

The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 2 as seen from tropical southern locations (25°S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 18 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 12 as seen from tropical southern locations (25°S). Evening rates are reduced due to lunar interference.

The actual rates observed will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates based on observations from dark-sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity, as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.

The radiant (the area of the sky from which meteors appear to originate) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning, November 29/30. These positions do not change greatly from day to day, so the listed coordinates may be used throughout this entire period. Most star atlases (available online, in bookstores, and at planetariums) include maps with celestial coordinate grids that can help you locate these positions in the sky.

I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart represents the sky directly overhead at the corresponding hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating them accordingly. A planisphere or planetarium app is also useful for showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year.

Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky (culmination), either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight will not reach their highest point in the sky until daylight; therefore, it is best to view them during the last few hours of the night.

It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen directly at the radiant position. Rather, meteors shoot outward from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies near the edge rather than the center. Viewing in this way allows you to trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it belongs to a shower) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not visible from radiants located far below the horizon.

The positions below are listed in west-to-east order by right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located farther west and are therefore accessible earlier in the night, while those listed farther down the list rise later.

These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week

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The December Phoenicids (PHO) are a periodic shower that rarely produces noticeable activity. The only impressive display produced so far by this shower occurred in 1956 when ZHR’s were near 100. The normal range for these meteors is from December 1-5,  with a peak on December 1st.  The radiant at maximum is located at 00:28 (007) -27. This position actually lies in northern Sculptor, 8 degrees southwest of the 2nd magnitude star known as Diphda (beta Ceti). This area of the sky is best placed in the southern sky as soon as evening twilight ends. These meteors are best seen from the southern hemisphere where the radiant lies much higher in the sky.  At only 15 km/sec. the Phoenicids produce extremely slow meteors.

The Northern Taurids (NTA) are active from a wide radiant located at 4. This area of the sky lies in central Taurus, 3 degrees east of 4^th magnitude star known as tau Tauri. To best see these meteors, observers should face southward near midnight LST.  Rates at this time should be near 1 per hour, as seen from the northern hemisphere and less than 1 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 25 km/sec, the average NTA meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The November Orionids (NOO) are active from November 13 through December 12, with maximum activity occurring on November 30^th. The radiant is currently located at 06:08 (092) +16. This area of the sky lies in northeast Orion, 1 degree north of the 4^th-magnitude star known as nu Orionis. This radiant is best placed in the northern sky near 0100 LST, when it lies highest above the southern horizon. Hourly rates should be near 3 as seen from the northern hemisphere and 2 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 42 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed.

The sigma Hydrids (HYD) are active from November 22 through December 31, with maximum activity occurring on December 7^th. The radiant is currently located at 07:52 (118) +04. This area of the sky lies on central Canis Minor, 3 degrees southeast of the zero-magnitude star known as Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris A). This radiant is best placed near 0300 LST, when it lies highest above the southern horizon. Rates should be near 1 no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 59 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of appear swift.

The Puppid-Velid Complex (PUP) are a vast complex of weak radiants located in the constellations of Puppis and Vela. Visual plots and photographic studies have revealed many radiants in this area during November and December. The combined strength of these radiants can produce a ZHR of 10 at maximum. Actual hourly rates will be much less unless you happen to be observing from the deep southern hemisphere. Activity from this source begins around December 1st and ends near the 15th. The date of maximum is not clear so we list it as December 7th, which lies at the center of the activity profile. The center of this activity is currently located at 08:40 (130) -44. This position lies in western Vela near the spot occupied by the 4th magnitude star known as e Velorum. These meteors are best seen near 0400 LST when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Observers located in the southern hemisphere have an advantage viewing this shower as the radiant will rise higher into their sky allowing more activity to be seen. Since the radiant lies low in the south for most northern hemisphere observers, meteors seen from north of the equator tend to be long in length and long-lasting. At 44 km/sec. the Puppid-Velids produce meteors of average velocity.

The Leonids (LEO) are active from October 27 to December 7 with maximum activity occurring on November 17^th. The radiant is currently located at 10:44 (161) +17. This position lies in central Leo, 2 degrees south of the faint star known as 51 Leonis. The Leonid radiant is best placed in the eastern sky during the last hour before morning twilight when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. Leonids may be seen from the southern hemisphere, but the viewing conditions are not quite as favorable as those north of the equator. Current hourly rates should be less than 1 no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 71 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of swift speed.

Sporadic meteors are those that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers evolve and disperse over time until they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night.

As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45°N), one would expect to see approximately 12 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn, from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 per hour. From tropical southern latitudes (25°S), morning rates would be around 8 per hour and 1 per hour during the evening. Locations between these two extremes would experience activity between these figures. Evening rates are reduced due to moonlight.

The list below provides tabular information on the active showers that are within reach of the visual observer to discern.

Rates and positions in the table are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning November 29/30.

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.