Major Meteor Showers of 2012

Major Meteor Showers (2012)

Quadrantids
Comet of Origin: 2003 EH1 Radiant: constellation Bootes Active: Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 12, 2012 Peak Activity: Jan. 4, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: 120 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 25.5 miles (41 kilometers) per second
Notes: A waxing gibbous moon will set at about 3 a.m. local time, allowing for several dark-sky hours of observing before dawn. This shower has a very sharp peak, usually only lasting a few hours, and is often obscured by winter weather. The alternate name for the Quadrantids is the Bootids. Constellation Quadrant Murales is now defunct, and the meteors appear to radiate from the modern constellation Bootes.
Lyrids
Comet of Origin: C/1861 G1 Thatcher Radiant: constellation Lyra Active: April 16-25, 2012 Peak Activity: April 21-22, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: 10-20 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 30 miles (49 kilometers) per second
Notes: A new moon on April 21 guarantees a dark sky in the late night and early morning hours, making this year ideal for observing from 10 p.m. to dawn. Lyrid meteors often produce luminous dust trains observable for several seconds.
Eta Aquarids
Comet of Origin: 1P Halley
Radiant: constellation Aquarius Active: April 19-May 28, 2012 Peak Activity: May 5-6, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: 10 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 44 miles (66 kilometers) per second
Note: While the shower peaks an hour or two before dawn, the year's closest and largest full moon will be out all night, resulting in a moonlit sky that will wash out all but the brightest meteors. Meteor watchers in the Southern Hemisphere stand the best chance of seeing any meteors.
Delta Aquarids
Comet of Origin: unknown, 96P Machholz suspected Radiant: constellation Aquarius Active: July 12-Aug. 23, 2012 Peak Activity: July 28-29, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 20 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 25 miles (41 kilometers) per second
Notes: It's not a good year for the Delta Aquarids -- light from the August full moon make them nearly impossible to see.
Perseids
Comet of Origin: 109P/Swift-Tuttle Radiant: constellation Perseus Active: July 17-Aug. 24, 2012 Peak Activity: Aug. 12, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 100 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second
Notes: Moonlight won't be as big a problem as last year, as its waning crescent won't rise until after midnight, and the shower peaks from about 10-11 p.m. local on the night of Aug. 12.
Orionids
Comet of Origin: 1P/Halley Radiant: Just to the north of constellation Orion's bright star Betelgeuse Active: Oct. 2-Nov. 7, 2012 Peak Activity: Oct. 21, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 25 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 41 miles (66 kilometers) per second
Note: With the second-fastest entry velocity of the annual meteor showers, meteors from the Orionids produce yellow and green colors and have been known to produce an odd fireball from time to time.
Leonids
Comet of Origin: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle Radiant: constellation Leo Active: Nov. 6-30, 2012 Peak Activity: Night of Nov. 17, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 15 per hour Meteor Velocity: 44 miles (71 kilometers) per second
Note: The Leonids have not only produced some of the best meteor showers in history, but they have sometimes achieved the status of meteor storm. During a Leonid meteor storm, many thousands of meteors per hour can shoot across the sky. Scientists believe these storms recur in cycles of about 33 years, though the reason is unknown. The last documented Leonid meteor storm occurred in 2002.
Geminids
Comet of Origin: 3200 Phaethon Radiant: constellation Gemini Active: Dec. 4-17, 2012 Peak Activity: Dec. 13-14, 2012 Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 120 meteors per hour Meteor Velocity: 22 miles (35 kilometers) per second
Note: The Geminids are typically one of the best, and most reliable, of the annual meteor showers. This year's peak falls perfectly with a new moon, guaranteeing a dark sky for the show in the nights on either side of the peak date. This shower is considered one of the best opportunities for younger viewers because the show gets going around 9 or 10 p.m.
Provided by JPL/NASA (news : web)