Meteor Activity Outlook for 7-13 December 2024

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Sunday December 8th. At that time the half-illuminated moon will set near 23:00 (on the previous evening), leaving the remainder of the night free of interfering moonlight. As the week progresses, the waxing gibbous moon will enter the morning sky and the window of opportunity to view under dark skies will shrink by approximately 45 minutes with each passing night. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 2 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 27 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 21 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). The actual rates seen will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Evening rates are reduced due to moonlight. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates as viewed from dark sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.

The radiant (the area of the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning December 7/8. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available online and at bookstores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart is the sky directly overhead at the appropriate hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating the charts to the desired direction. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight will not reach their highest point in the sky until daylight. For these radiants, it is best to view them during the last few hours before dawn. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at its radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies toward the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located far below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.

These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week

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Now that the activity from particles produced by comet 2P/Encke have ceased encountering the Earth, the Taurid showers for 2024 are over and we resume reporting activity from the Anthelion (ANT) radiant. This is not a true radiant, but rather activity caused by the Earth’s motion through space. As the Earth revolves around the sun it encounters particles orbiting in a pro-grade motion that are approaching their perihelion point. They all appear to be radiating from an area near the opposition point of the sun, hence the name Anthelion. These were once recorded as separate showers throughout the year, but it is now suggested to bin them into a category separate from true showers and sporadics. This radiant is a very large oval some thirty degrees wide by fifteen degrees high. Activity from this radiant can appear from more than one constellation. The position listed here is for the center of the radiant which is currently located at 05:52 (088) +23. This position lies in eastern Taurus, 3 degrees north of the 4th magnitude star known as chi¹ Orionis. This radiant is best placed near 01:00 local standard time (LST) when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the southern sky. Rates at this time should be near 3 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 2 per hour as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The Monocerotids (MON) are active from a radiant located at 06:40 (100) +08. This area of the sky is located in northern Monoceros, 5 degrees south of the 3rd magnitude star known as Alzirr (xi Geminorum). This radiant best placed near 0200 LST, when it lies highest in the southern sky. Hourly rates should be near 2 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 41 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed. This shower is active from November 23^rd through December 24^th, with maximum activity occurring on December 9^th.

The Geminids (GEM) are active from December 1-21, peaking on December 14^th. The Geminid radiant is currently located at 07:04 (106) +33. This area of the sky lies in northern Gemini, 3 degrees east of the 4th magnitude star known as theta Geminorum. These meteors are best seen near 02:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the northern sky. Rates are this weekend are expected to be near 5 per as seen from the northern hemisphere and near 2 as seen from areas south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 35km/sec, most of these meteors would appear to possess a medium velocity.

The sigma Hydrids (HYD) are active from a radiant located at 08:16 (124) +03. This area of the sky is located in northwestern Hydra, 5 degrees west of the 4^th magnitude star known as sigma Hydrae. These meteors are active from November 22nd through December 31st, with maximum activity occurring on December 9^th. These meteors are best placed above the southern horizon near 03:00 LST. Rates should be near 2 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 58km/sec, most of these meteors would appear swift.

The Puppid-Velid Complex (PUV) are a vast complex of weak radiants located in the constellations of Puppis and Vela. Visual plots and photographic studies have revealed many radiants in this area during November and December. The combined strength of these radiants can produce a ZHR of 10. Actual hourly rates will be much less unless you happen to be observing from the deep southern hemisphere. Activity from this source begins around November 22nd. The center of this activity is currently located at 08:56 (134)  -44. This position lies in central Vela, 2 degrees west of the 2nd magnitude star known as Suhail (lambda Velorum). Peak rates occur near December 7th. These meteors are best seen near 0400 LST when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Observers located in the southern hemisphere have an advantage viewing this shower as the radiant will rise higher into their sky allowing more activity to be seen. Since the radiant lies low in the south for most northern hemisphere observers, meteors seen from north of the equator tend to be long in length and long-lasting. At 42 km/sec. the Puppid-Velids produce meteors of average velocity. Note: these are also listed as the “e Velids” from several sources.

The Comae Berenicids (COM) are a long duration shower active from December 5th through February 4th. Maximum activity occurs on December 16th. The radiant is currently located at 10:04 (151) +36, which places it in central Leo Minor, near the spot occupied by the 4^th magnitude star known as 21 Leonis Minoris. These meteors would be best seen near 05:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the eastern sky. Current rates would be near 1 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and less than one as seen from south of the equator. At 64km/sec., these meteors would produce mostly swift meteors.

Sporadic meteors are those meteors that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers are evolving and disperse over time to the point where they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of the major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night. As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see during this period approximately 11 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates should be near 2 per hour. As seen from the tropical southern latitudes (25S), morning rates would be near 8 per hour as seen from rural observing sites and 1 per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between these listed figures.

The list below offers the information in tabular form. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Class Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their intensity:

• Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates normally ten or better.
• Class II: reliable minor showers with ZHR’s normally two to ten.
• Class III: showers that do not provide annual activity. These showers are rarely active yet have the potential to produce a major display on occasion.
• Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s rarely exceeding two. The study of these showers is best left to experienced observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to determine shower association. These weak showers are also good targets for video and photographic work. Observers with less experience are urged to limit their shower associations to showers with a rating of I to III.