Meteor showers galore!
O
ur bustling solar system is littered
with rocky particles of space
debris known as meteoroids.
Although most are unimpressive in size,
these pebble-sized pieces of cosmic clutter
can still put on quite a show for earthbound
observers.
When a meteoroid plunges into the Earth’s
atmosphere, it is traveling at phenomenal
speeds. The drag caused by the air it
encounters, heats both the meteoroid and
the air molecules. This intense interaction
ionizes surrounding atmospheric gases to
create the fleeting glowing trails of light we
know as meteors.
Although the potential is there on any
given night, witnessing a sporadic meteor
is not a frequent experience for most.
Luckily, some cyclical celestial objects
like comets and asteroids leave behind
streams of orbiting debris that the Earth
will cross paths with on a regular basis.
When this happens, meteor activity
increases noticeably and, sometimes,
dramatically. Known as meteor showers,
these predictable events are a great time to
try and catch multiple shooting stars.
The final quarter of 2015 is packed with
offerings for meteor shower enthusiasts.
These include:
Oct. 8-9 - Draconid Meteor Shower
Although it usually does not result in an
impressive amount of meteors per hour, the
Draconid event is a notable rarity among
meteor showers because these meteors are
best seen in the early evening instead of
in the more common post-midnight hours.
The radiant point for this meteor shower,
which is caused by debris from Comet
21P/Giacobini-Zinner, is in the head of the
Draco the Dragon constellation. Set to peak
around October 8th, the shower usually
only produces a few meteors per hour, but it
is unpredictable and has produced hundreds
per hour in some years.
Oct. 21-22 - Orionid Meteor Shower
Generated when the Earth crosses paths
with the dust left behind by Halley’s
Comet, the Orionids radiate from the
constellation Orion and generally last for
about a week in late-October. Observers
can typically see 10-25 meteors per hour
during the shower‘s peak activity time,
which will begin late evening on October
21st and last into the predawn hours of
October 22nd. Although the Orionids
move fast, they have been known to leave
a glowing gas trail that lasts for a few
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Left, astrophotographer
Babak Tafreshi
captured this
stunning image
of a persistent
meteor train over
a lake in northern
Maine during
the 2012 Orionid
meteor shower.
For a timelapse
video, click here.
COURTESY OF ALBERTO LEVY
This time-lapse photo captures the progression of the last total lunar eclipse, which took place on October 8, 2014.
Lunar tetrad wraps up with September eclipse
O
bservers in the Americas — especially South America —
will be perfectly positioned to witness the Moon take on a
red hue as a total lunar ecl ipse unfolds on September 27th.
The last total lunar eclipse, which occurred on April 4, lasted
just under 5 minutes making it the shortest total lunar eclipse of
the century. This time, the total phase of the eclipse will last a
leisurely 72 minutes.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when a nearly perfect alignment
of the Sun, Earth and Moon causes the Full Moon to be
shrouded by Earth’s deepest shadow. During the event, the same
phenomenon that gives our sunsets their beautiful, colorful
glow will cast the Moon in some shade of burnt reddish-orange.
How red the Moon will actually appear depends on Earth‘s
atmospheric conditions, such as dust levels and humidity, that
COURTESY OF BABAK TAFRESHI, TWAN (The World at Night)
stunning seconds.
Nov. 17-18 – Leonid Meteor Shower
Set to peak in the predawn hours of
November 18th, the always-anticipated
Leonid meteor shower is an annual
November presence caused by the Earth’s
passage through debris left behind by
Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Although it has
a history of producing stunning meteor
storms every few decades, the shower
usually generates a steady 15 to 20 meteors
per hour, which is this year’s expected
rate. The Leonids radiate from the Leo
constellation.
Dec. 13-14 – Geminids Meteor Shower
The Geminid meteor shower is
traditionally one of the year’s most prolific
– producing more than 100 bright meteors
per hour during its peak, which will be
between midnight and dawn on December
14th this year. It is not just the high activity
that makes the Geminids notable. In fact,
their origins make it truly unusual because
instead of being generated by the debris
left behind by a comet, they are caused by
the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which orbit’s
the sun every 1.4 years. This year the show
should be particularly impressive because
the thin crescent Moon will provide little if
any interference.
viewing tips
• When selecting an observing spot, try
to find a dark open sky away from light
pollution.
• Remember the best viewing hours are
usually between midnight and dawn.
• Look at the whole sky for meteors, and do
not confine yourself to the radiant point.
• Bring a blanket to stretch out on or a
reclining chair for comfortable viewing.
• Bring extra layers (jackets, blankets, etc.).
• Once you are settled at your observing
site, give your eyes time to adjust to the
darkness so that you will be able to see
more. Be sure to avoid using flashlights or
checking phone screens, which will disrupt
this vital adjustment.
• Consider bringing a telescope or
binoculars to explore some of the night
sky’s other treasures while you wait for the
meteor shower to amp up.
• Be patient!
Sky’s
Up
affect the way sunlight is filtered and refracted to light the lunar
surface.
The eclipse’s total phase begins at 2:11 UT on September
28th (10:11 p.m. EDT on September 27th). The partial phase,
which begins at 1:07 UT on September 28th (9:07 p.m. EDT
on September 27th), will last a generous three hours and 20
minutes and give many an opportunity to watch the Earth’s
shadow’s colorful march across the lunar surface.
In addition to putting on a spectacular show in the Americas,
the September 27/28 eclipse will be visible in part or in full to
observers in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.
It is the last in a series of four consecutive lunar eclipses that
are all total eclipses. The series, which is known as a lunar
tetrad, began in 2014. The next lunar tetrad will begin in 2032.
save the date
• Sept. 19 – International Observe the
Moon Night
Each year, International Observe the
Moon Night is
held to encourage
people around the
globe to take a good
long look at the
Moon whether it is
through a telescope,
binoculars or even
with the naked eye.
The evening’s goal is to generate
appreciation for this stunning celestial
beauty and inspire people to delve deeper
into the intriguing lunar landscape. For
Sky’s
Up
information on the vast range of activities
scheduled throughout the world in
relation to the event, click here.
• Oct. 4-10 – World Space Week
Designed to inspire and enlighten,
World Space Week is a global celebration
of space, science and technology
coordinated by the United Nations
with the aid of the World Space Week
Association.
The theme for this year’s event is
“Discovery,” and event organizers
will be encouraged to highlight deep
space discovery efforts. Launched by a
declaration of the U.N. General Assembly
in 1999, World Space
Week begins every
year on October
4th to recognize the
anniversary of the
1957 launch of Sputnik
1, the first man-made
Earth satellite. It wraps
up on October 10th
in commemoration
of the signing of
a 1967 treaty that provided the basic
framework of international space law.
For information on the events scheduled
throughout the world to celebrate the
week, click here.
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