There is a chance that you will see a beautiful streak shoot across the sky as a meteor flies overhead. Skywatchers can catch a lot of flares on special dates when the sky is dark.
Our planet runs into the debris field left behind by icy comets or rocky asteroids when it goes around the sun. These small particles burn up in the atmosphere, creating a trail of light. The changing phases of the bright moon are the main variable affecting the visibility of the shower. You can subscribe to The Times Space and Astronomy Calendar to get a reminder.
The best way to avoid artificial light sources is to head out to the countryside. People in rural areas may be able to just step outside. City dwellers have options too.
A dedicated dark sky area is maintained by many cities. Robert Lunsford, the secretary-general of the International Meteor Organization, suggested contacting them and finding out where they are.
The best time to view a meteorite shower is after midnight and before sunrise. You have to wait 30 to 45 minutes after you get to your viewing location to see as many meteors as possible. It will allow your eyes to adjust. Take in a large swathe of the night sky. Clear nights, higher altitudes and times when the moon is not present are best. The more stars you can see, the more meteorites you can see.
If you want to view the shower, you should use a telescope or binoculars.
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There is a meteor shower over Andalusia, Spain, in 2020.
When Earth is plowing into the densest portion of the debris field, the shower peaks on a certain date, but in some cases many meteors can still be seen before or after that night.
Showers are named for a constellation in the sky. There is no need to know every detail of the sphere. During a shower, meteorites should be visible all over the sky.
Next year will be a quiet one for meteor showers. The bright moon phases that occur during the summer and winter will wash out many trails. The new shower, called the Tau Herculids, is predicted to be visible for the first time in 2022. The best way to catch a nice show is on the calendar below.
Active from Dec. 26 to Jan. 16. January 2 to 3 is peak night.
The year begins with the Quadrantid meteor shower, which is named after a constellation that modern astronomy lump in with the constellation Botes. It is possible that it will be one of the strongest showers of the year.
The maximum activity of the Quadrantids is one day after the new moon. Predicted rates are closer to 25 per hour in dark skies when the shower happens in January, because the weather may be cloudy. The event is most active during a six-hour window. It will be best to view it from East Asia at 2 a.m., because that's when the debris field will be facing. People in other parts of the Northern Hemisphere can see fireballs.
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A lyrid meteorite over Austria in April 2020.
There was active from April 15 to 29. The peak night is April 21 to 22.
When the moon is two-thirds full, visibility will be limited. It is best to view it in the early hours before dawn in the Northern Hemisphere. When the moon will be a tiny crescent in 2023, there will be up to 18 meteors per hour to be visible.
From April 15 to May 27. May 4 to 5 is peak night.
The debris field of Halley's comet resulted in two showers in October, one of which is the Eta Aquariids. It will be visible in both hemispheres when debris enters over Earth's Equator. During peak times, the moon should be between 3 a.m. and twilight on May 5. The shower should be very active a week before and after that date. In the dark sky, the Eta Aquariids have produced fireballs in the range of 45 to 85 per hour.
There is a video
The Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys observed a fragment of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 over the course of three days.
Potentially active from the end of May to the beginning of June. May 29 to 31 may be peak nights.
In 1930, comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW3 to its friends) and a possible shower of meteorites were spotted by astronomer. Since then, little activity has been detected. In 1995 comet SW3 had a big break up, splitting into multiple pieces that released a lot of dust. Our planet has a good chance of hitting its field this year, although some calculations suggest it won't. The new moon on May 30 will make for great conditions for viewing meteorites. The event will be most visible in parts of North and Central America, with optimal spots ranging from Southern California and Mexico to Texas.
Active from July 18 to August 21. July 29 to 30 is peak night.
This shower is one of the best for viewing in the southern tropics, but it will be hard to see in the Northern Hemisphere. The peak of the moon will be a skinny crescent. There should be streaks from the shower for a week before or after the peak evening. The Southern Delta Aquariids can produce between 15 to 20 meteors per hour under dark skies, and can be seen around 3 a.m.
Active from July 14 to September 1. August 11 to 12 is peak night.
One of the most popular showers of the year is the Perseids because of warm summer nights and high rates of fireballs. The comet Swift-Tuttle, which came back often through the inner solar system, was the source of the Perseids. The moon will be full on the shower's peak night and up almost all night, cutting down on visibility. If you wait until the early hours of the morning, you can still see between 15 and 20 meteors per hour.
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There are meteorites streaking over Lebanon.
From Sept. 26 to Nov. 22. October 20 to 21 is peak night.
After hitting the outbound trail of Halley's comet in May, Earth every October runs into the debris the comet leaves as it heads toward the sun, producing the Orionid meteor shower. In exceptional years, it can create up to 75 per hour, but it is a medium-strength shower that usually produces 10 to 20 streaks per hour. Visibility should be good this year because the moon will be 20 percent full. It will be shown all over the world at 4 a.m.
From Nov. 3 to Dec. 2. November 17 to 18 is peak night.
The Leonids are known for producing meteorites. In 1966, 1999 and 2001 its rates went over 1,000 fireballs per hour. Our planet is not expected to see any dense debris fields from the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle until 2099. On the night of peak activity, the moon will be around a third full. The shower can be seen after midnight in the Northern Hemisphere and later in the night in the Southern Hemisphere.
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The night sky over Myanmar has the Geminids in it.
Active from Dec. 4 to 17. December 13 to 14 is peak night.
The best shower of the year, the Geminids will occur six days after the moon is full in 2022, interfering with their light. After the sun sets, viewers in northern latitudes should have about three hours to see them, but before the moon rises, they can expect five to 10 meteors per hour. Observers can try to get the moon behind a wall or other obstruction in order to see the shower better, even when the moon is not up.
There was active from December 17 to December 26. The peak night is December 22 to 23.
While the Geminids are poorly placed with regards to the moon's phases, a shower that seems to spring from the Little Dipper should be a safer bet for observers. The new moon will cause the shower to peak close to it. It is a Northern Hemisphere affair and viewers can expect to see seven to 10 meteors per hour.
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A guide to the craft.
The New York Times has an interactive section aboutexploring the solar system.
