Meteor Activity Outlook for 3-9 December 2022

No matter where you live, the first half of December provides some of the best meteor activity of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere the sporadic rates are still strong plus you can also count on strong activity from the Geminids, which peak on December 14th. There are also several minor sources that add a few meteors each hour. All these centers of activity are located high in the sky during the early morning hours this time of year. Much of the activity mentioned above can also be seen from the Southern Hemisphere. While the sporadic rates are not as strong as those seen from the north, they are stronger than the previous months and heading for a maximum in February. The warm, but short summer nights south of the equator make for some great viewing as long as the moon does not interfere.

During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Thursday December 8th. At that time the moon will lie 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 will provide a short window of opportunity to view under dark sky conditions between moonset and dawn. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week should be near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 2 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S) For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 20 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 15 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). The actual rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Evening rates are reduced due to moonlight during this period. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates as viewed 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 where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning December 3/4. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located 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 is the sky directly overhead at the appropriate hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating the charts to the desired direction. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in 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, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located far below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.

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 rage for these meteors is from November 28 through December 9 with a peak on December 5. The radiant at maximum is located at 01:08 (017) -53. This position lies in southern Phoenix, 5 degrees south of the 3rd magnitude star known as beta Phoenicis. For those viewing from the northern tropics southward, this position also lies 7 degrees northwest of the bright 1st magnitude star known as Achernar (alpha Eridani). 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. For those viewing from the northern hemisphere, only those in the northern tropics have any real chance of seeing activity from this source. At 18 km/sec. the Phoenicids produce extremely slow meteors.

Now that the activity from particles produced by comet 2P/Encke have ceased encountering the Earth, the Taurid showers for 2020 are over and we resume reporting activity from the Anthelion (ANT) radiant. This is not a true radiant but rather activity caused by the Earth’s motion through space. As the Earth revolves around the sun it encounters particles orbiting in a pro-grade motion that are approaching their perihelion point. They all appear to be radiating from an area near the opposition point of the sun, hence the name Anthelion. These were once recorded as separate showers throughout the year, but it is now suggested to bin them into a category separate from true showers and sporadics. This radiant is a very large oval some thirty degrees wide by fifteen degrees high. Activity from this radiant can appear from more than one constellation. The position listed here is for the center of the radiant which is currently located at 05:36 (084) +23. This position lies in eastern Taurus, 2 degrees north of the 3rd magnitude star known as Tianguan (zeta Tauri). Since the radiant is so large, Anthelion activity may also appear from southeastern Auriga, western Gemini, and northeastern Orion as well as Taurus. This radiant is best placed near midnight LST when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the southern sky. Rates at this time should be near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of slow velocity.

The November Orionids (NOO) are active from November 13 through December 06, with maximum activity occurring on November 28^th. The radiant is currently located at 06:17 (096) +16. This area of the sky lies in the northeastern Orion, 3 degrees northeast of the 4th magnitude star known as xi Orionis. This radiant is best placed in the northern sky near 0100 LST, when it lies highest above the southernhorizon. Rates should be near 2 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 44 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed.

The Monocerotids (MON) are active from a radiant located at 06:20 (097) +09. This area of the sky is located in northern Monoceros, 3 degrees southwest of the 3rd magnitude star known as Alzirr (xi Geminorum). This position is less than 10 degrees away from the NOO radiant so care must be taken to differentiate between these two showers. This radiant best placed near 0100 LST, when it lies highest in the southern sky. Rates should be near 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 41 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed. This shower is active from November 23^rd through December 24^th, with maximum activity occurring on December 11^th.

The Geminids (GEM) are active from December 4-20, peaking on December 14^th. The radiant currently lies at 06:48 (102) +33. This area of the sky lies in northwestern Gemini, 2 degrees southwest of the 4th magnitude star known as theta Geminorum. These meteors are best seen near 02:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Rate are expected to be near 4 per hour as seen from the Northern Hemisphere and 2 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 33km/sec, most of these meteors would appear to possess a medium velocity.

The sigma Hydrids (HYD) are active from a radiant located at 08:04 (121) +03. This area of the sky is located in central Canis Minor, 3 degrees southeast of the zero-magnitude star known as Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris). These meteors are active from December 3-20, with maximum activity occurring on December 9^th.  To best see these meteors, face toward the south near 0300 LST. Rates should be near 2 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 59km/sec, most of these meteors would appear swift.

The Puppid-Velids (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. 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. The center of this activity is currently located at 08:10 (122) -45. This position lies in western Vela, 2 degrees northeast of the 2nd magnitude star known as gamma Velorum. Peak rates occur near December 7. These meteors are best seen near 0300 LST when the radiant lies highest above the southern horizon in a dark 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 40 km/sec. the Puppid-Velids produce meteors of average velocity. Note: these are also listed as the “e Velids” from several sources.

The Comae Berenicids (COM) are a long duration shower active from December 5th through February 4th. Maximum activity occurs on December 16th. The radiant is currently located at 09:44 (146) +37, which places it in Leo Minor, 6 degrees west of the 4th magnitude star known as beta Leonis Minoris. These meteors would be best seen near 04:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the eastern sky. Current rates would be near 1 per hour as seen from the Northern Hemisphere and less than one as seen from south of the equator. At 63km/sec., these meteors would produce mostly swift meteors. These meteors are also known as the December Leonis Minorids.

Sporadic meteors are those meteors that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers are evolving and disperse over time to the point where they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of the major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night. As seen from the mid-Northern Hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see during this period approximately 8 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 per hour. As seen from the tropical Southern latitudes (25S), morning rates would be near 6 per hour as seen from rural observing sites and 1 per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between these listed figures. Evening rates are reduced during this period due to moonlight.

The list below offers the information in tabular form. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning except where noted in the shower descriptions.

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.