Space Encyclopedia
🌠 Meteor Showers
Overview
A meteor shower happens when Earth plows through the dust trail left by a comet — or, in the case of the Geminids, an asteroid. Grains no larger than a grain of sand burn up in the upper atmosphere at 40–70 km/s, producing the streaks we call shooting stars.
Key facts
- •Perseids peak: August 11–13, ~100 meteors/hour
- •Geminids peak: December 13–14, ~120 meteors/hour
- •Quadrantids peak: January 3–4, sharp peak
- •Best viewing: after midnight, away from city lights
- •Radiant: constellation the meteors appear to fly out of
Why it matters
Meteor showers are the easiest naked-eye astronomy event of the year and one of the most reliable — the same showers recur on the same dates. They also deliver a small but steady stream of extraterrestrial material to Earth's atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the best time to watch a meteor shower?
Between midnight and dawn, when your location on Earth is rotating into the meteor stream. Avoid nights near full moon and find dark skies away from city lights.
Do meteor showers happen every year?
Yes. The major showers recur on nearly the same dates each year because Earth crosses the same dust trail on the same part of its orbit.
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