The Orionids typically emit 20 to 25 meteors per hour at their peak and are known for being particularly dazzling – many of the Orionids are fireball meteors. Like the Eta Aquarids, the Orionids are also remnants left behind by Halley’s Comet.
The Orionids appear to emerge from the constellation Orion, which rises around 11 p.m. local time and is highest in the sky just before dawn.
The modern moon occurs on the night of October 21-22, and the moon will set well before midnight this coming week, so you’ll have perfect conditions to see this meteor shower.
Leonids (November–December)
According to the American Meteor Society, the Leonids are dynamic from approximately November 3 to December 2. Their peak is pointed and produces the most meteors on the night of November 16-17. However, other organizations predict that this rain will peak from November 17 to November 18. During the peak of the Leonids, you can expect about 15 meteors per hour under shadowy skies.
Although the Leonids produce fewer meteors than many other major meteor showers, they are eminent producing fast-moving, bright fireball meteorites.
The Leonids peak just before the modern moon – on the morning of November 18, the moon will be full 6 percent illuminated and in the eastern United States it will only augment approximately 5 a.m on November 17, so you will have enough time to see this meteor shower in perfect viewing conditions.
The radiant of the Leonids is the constellation Leo, which rises around midnight local time and is highest in the sky at dawn.
Geminids (December)
The Geminids are dynamic from approximately December 4 to 17, peaking on the night of December 13 to 14. Their peak is pointed, so the night of December 13 is the best time to observe the sky.
The Geminids are the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. In addition to boasting 120 to 150 meteors per hour at its peak, this meteor shower is also the brightest and most colorful of the year.
Geminids are dazzling, slow-moving meteors that often have yellow tints, but can also have other colors, including green, blue, white, red or orange. Unlike most meteors, which are formed by the remnants of a comet, the Geminids are the remnants of an asteroid.
The night when the peak of the Geminids, their radius, the constellation of Gemini, will be above the horizon all night long and will reach its highest point around 2 a.m. local time, so meteors will be observable almost all night long.
There will be approximately a moon that same night 32 percent illuminated and it will rise 1:30 a.m in the eastern United States, so if you watch this shower shortly after midnight, the moonlight won’t interfere with your viewing experience.
Ursida (December)
The Ursids are dynamic around December 17 to December 26, peaking in the early morning hours of December 22. This meteor shower is less dynamic than others and typically produces about 10 meteors per hour; however, viewing conditions will be ideal for observing the sky. The moon will set on January 21 around 6 p.m. in the eastern United States, so no moonlight will disturb this meteor shower.
Although the Ursids usually produce the most meteors just before dawn, when its ray, the Minor Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is highest in the sky, meteors will be observable throughout the night during the shower’s peak. In northern latitudes, the Ursids’ radius remains above the horizon all night long.