Meteor Shower Calendar for 2010

January

Quadrantids (Jan 3-4) -- Parent Comet 2003 EH1

In January, there's nice show on the sky called Quadrantids Meteor Shower. Typically, 40 meteors or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour.

April

Lyrids (April 21-22)  -- Parent Comet C/Thatcher

There is no April mop. Even the frequency is lower than January, we can watch another Meteor Shower. The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. Lyrids meteor shower produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.

May

eta Aquarids (May 5-6) -- Parent Comet 1P/Halley

This may Meteor Shower has low frequency, 

June

Lyrids (June 14-16)

The June Lyrids is a low-rate shower during which you could see up to 10 meteors per hour during its peak. 

July

Delta Aquarids (July 28-29)

At peak time about 20 bright, yellow meteors can be observed per hour. Because these meteors nearly broadside the Earth, their speed is a moderate 25.5 miles per second.

Capricornids (July 29-30)

The Capricornids are characterized by their often yellow coloration and their frequent brightness. They are also slow interplanetary interlopers, hitting our atmosphere at around 15 miles per second. Though you can expect only 15 meteors per hour at best under dark sky conditions, the Capricornids are noted for producing brilliant fireballs.

August

Perseids (August 12-13) -- Parent Comet 109P/Swift Tuttle

This shower produces about 60 meteors per hour, and its performance is farily consistant from year to year.

Orionids Meteor Shower

October

Orionids (October 21-22)

This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs.

November

Leonids (November 17-18) -- Parent Comet 55P Tempel Tuttle

The Leonids are best known for their 33-year peaks, during which 100s of meteors per hour can be observed. The last of these peaks occured in 2001.

December

Geminids (December 13-14)

The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green.