Star Gazing: Meteor Showers

It used to be believed that meteors were actually stars that were falling from the sky. Hence the name falling star. We now know that this isn't true. Falling stars, (meteors) are actually small particles of debris that pass through the earth's atmosphere and burn up on the way.

In space there are clusters of debris and dust that circle around the Sun much like the Earth does. At approximately the same time each year the Earth passes through these clusters. Hence there is an unusually large concentration of meteors appearing in very particular areas of the sky at the same time every year. We call these meteor showers.

Below is a list of some of the more active metoer showers with their approximate date of occurrence and the hourly rate at which you might expect to see them occuring. You will need a good star chart to help you find the appropriate constellations or you can just sit back and watch the whole sky for signs of activity.

Name	Duration	Peak	Hourly rate	Strength
Quadrantids	Jan 1 - Jan 5	Jan 3	120	Strong
Delta Cancrids	Jan 1 - Jan 31	Jan 17	4	Medium
Alpha Centaurids	Jan 28 - Feb 21	Feb 7	6	Medium
February Leonids	Feb 1 - Feb 28	several	5	Medium
Delta Leonids	Feb 15 - Mar 10	Feb 24	2	Medium
Gamma Normids	Feb 25 - Mar 22	Mar 13	8	Medium
Virginids	Mar 1 - Apr 15	several	5	Medium
Librids	Apr 15 - Apr 30	several	5	Medium
Lyrids	Apr 15 - Apr 28	Apr 22	15	Strong
Eta Aquarids	Apr 19 - May 28	May 6	60	Strong
Alpha Scorpiids	May 1 - May 31	May 16	5	Medium
Arietids	May 22 - Jul 2	Jun 7	54	Strong
Sagittarids	Jun 1 - Jul 15	Jun 19	5	Medium
July Pegasids	Jul 7 - Jul 13	Jul 10	3	Medium
Piscis Austrinids	Jul 15 - Aug 10	Jul 28	5	Medium
South Delta Aquarids	Jul 12 - Aug 19	Jul 28	20	Strong
Alpha Capricornids	Jul 3 - Aug 15	Jul 30	4	Medium
South Iota Aquarids	Jul 25 - Aug 15	Aug 4	2	Medium
North Delta Aquarids	Jul 15 - Aug 25	Aug 8	4	Medium
Perseids	Jul 17 - Aug 24	Aug 12	90	Strong
Kappa Cygnids	Aug 3 - Aug 25	Aug 17	3	Medium
North Iota Aquarids	Aug 11 - Aug 31	Aug 20	3	Medium
Alpha Aurigids	Aug 25 - Sep 8	Sep 1	7	Medium
September Perseids	Sep 5 - Oct 10	Sep 8	6	Medium
Piscids	Sep 1 - Sep 30	Sep 20	3	Medium
October Arietids	Oct 1 - Oct 31	Oct 8	5	Medium
Delta Aurigids	Sep 22 - Oct 23	Oct 10	6	Medium
Epsilon Geminids	Oct 14 - Oct 27	Oct 18	2	Medium
Orionids	Oct 2 - Nov 7	Oct 21	20	Strong
Southern Taurids	Nov 1 - Nov 25	Nov 5	5	Medium
Northern Taurids	Nov 1 - Nov 25	Nov 12	5	Medium
Chi Orionids	Nov 25 - Dec 31	Dec 2	3	Medium
Monocerotids	Nov 27 - Dec 17	Dec 9	3	Medium
Sigma Hydrids	Dec 3 - Dec 15	Dec 12	2	Medium
Puppid-velids	Dec 2 - Dec 16	Dec 12	4	Medium
Geminids	Dec 7 - Dec 17	Dec 14	120	Strong
Coma Berenicids	Dec 12 - Jan 23	Dec 20	5	Medium
Ursids	Dec 17 - Dec 26	Dec 22	10	Strong

Astronomy and telescope related books & products

Build-It Yourself! -- It?s so easy, now even an eight-year-old can build an 18" long, 3X refractor telescope in less than an hour. -- Includes objective lens, eye lens, glare stops, kraftboard tubes, instructions and an Edmund Star and Planet Locator. Finished product is powerful enough to show moon craters, Jupiter?s moons and many stars not visible to the naked eye. -- For ages 8 and up. --

Why do planets spin? How hot is the Sun? What keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth? What are Saturn's rings made of? What's a black hole in space? Now you can discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about basic astronomy. In Astronomy for Every Kid you'll learn about the constellations using a shoe box planetarium. You'll chart the movement of the stars with nothing but a string, a marker, and a nail. And you'll use a toy magnet to simulate the Earth's protective force field. Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid The Human Body for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid

Children eight and up will enjoy this conversational but information-packed introduction to astronomy and stargazing, which includes the achievements of the great scientists, the history of space exploration, the story of our solar system, the myths behind the constellations, and how to navigate the night sky. Whimsical color illustrations on every page and handy definitions and sidebars help engage younger readers and develop their interest. The special star wheel helps locate stars and planets from any location at any time of year. This is the third in Black Dog & Leventhal's successful series including The Story of the Orchestra and A Child's Introduction to Poetry.

Looking for some Great Astronomy stuff like telescopes, lenses and science projects? Edmund Scientifics has it all.

Meteor Showers

Astronomy and telescope related books & products