Meteor Activity Outlook for 30 November-6 December 2024

Jordan Ragsdale captured this brilliant fireball using his AllSky Camera System on July 11, 2024, at 1:46 MDT (7:46 UT) from Eagle, Idaho, USA. ©Jordan Ragsdale

No matter where you live, the first half of December provides some of the best meteor activity of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere the sporadic rates are still strong plus you can also count on strong activity from the Geminids, which peak on December 14th. There are also several minor sources that add a few meteors each hour. All these centers of activity are located high in the sky during the early morning hours this time of year. Much of the activity mentioned above can also be seen from the Southern Hemisphere. While the sporadic rates are not as strong as those seen from the north, they are stronger than the previous months and heading for a maximum in February. The warm, but short summer nights south of the equator make for some great viewing as long as the moon does not interfere.

During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday November 23rd. At that time the half-illuminated moon will rise near 23:00 Local Standard Time (on the previous evening) and will remain above the horizon the remainder of the night. Successful meteor observations are possible this weekend if you keep the moon out of your field of view. Viewing conditions improve with each passing night as the moon wanes and rises closer to dawn. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 4 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 3 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 16 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 10 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). Morning rates are reduced during this period due to moonlight. 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. 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 November 23/24. 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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The December Phoenicids (PHO) are a periodic shower that rarely produces noticeable activity. The only impressive display produced so far by this shower occurred in 1956 when ZHR’s were near 100. The normal range for these meteors is from November 28 through December 9 with a peak on December 1st. The radiant at maximum is located at 01:12 (016) -45. This position lies in central Phoenix, 2 degrees northeasr of the 3rd magnitude star known as beta Phoenicis. For those viewing from the northern tropics southward, this position also lies 7 degrees northwest of the bright 1st magnitude star known as Achernar (alpha Eridani). This area of the sky is best placed in the southern sky as soon as evening twilight ends. These meteors are best seen from the southern hemisphere where the radiant lies much higher in the sky. For those viewing from the northern hemisphere, only those in the northern tropics have any real chance of seeing activity from this source. At only 15 km/sec. the Phoenicids produce extremely slow meteors.

The Northern Taurids (NTA) are still active from a radiant located at 05:00 (075) +24. This area of the sky is located in central Taurus, half-way between the 1^st magnitude orange star known as Aldebaran (alpha Tauri) and the 2nd magnitude star El Nath (beta Tauri). The brilliant planet Jupiter also lies near this position. To best see these meteors, one should face southward near 01:00. Hourly rates at this time should be near 3 as seen from the northern hemisphere and 2 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 27 km/sec., the average NTA meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The November Orionids (NOO) are active from November 13 through December 6, with maximum activity occurring on November 28^th. The radiant is currently located at 06:10 (093) +15. This area of the sky lies in the northeastern Orion, 1 degree north of the 4th magnitude star known as nu Orionis. This radiant is best placed in the northern sky near 0200 LST, when it lies highest above the horizon. Hourly rates 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 42 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed.

The Monocerotids (MON) become active this week from a radiant located at 06:08 (092) +09. This area of the sky is located in eastern Orion, 3 degrees northeast of the 1^st magnitude orange star known as Betelgeuse (alpha Orionis). This position is less than 10 degrees away from the NOO radiant so care must be taken to differentiate between these two showers. This radiant best placed near 0200 LST, when it lies highest in the northern sky. Hourly rates should be near 1 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  December 5-20, with maximum activity occurring on December 9^th.

The Geminids (GEM) are active from December 4-20, peaking on December 14^th. The Geminid radiant is currently located at 06:32 (098) +33. This area of the sky lies in southeastern Auriga, 3 degrees southwest 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 expected to be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 33km/sec, most of these meteors would appear to possess a medium velocity.

The sigma Hydrids (HYD) are active from a radiant located at 07:59 (120) +04. This area of the sky is located in southeastern Canis Minor, 4 degrees southeast of the zero-magnitude star known as Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris). These meteors are active from November 22nd through December 31st, with maximum activity occurring on December 7^th. These meteors are best placed above the northern horizon near 03:00 LST. Rates should be near 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 58km/sec, most of these meteors would appear swift.

The Puppid-Velid Complex (PUP) 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 08:38 (123)  -45. This position lies in western Vela, 5 degrees northeast of the 2nd magnitude star known as gamma Velorum. Peak rates occur near December 8th. 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 44 km/sec. the Puppid-Velids produce meteors of average velocity. Note: these are also listed as the “e Velids” from several sources.

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 12 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates should be near 3 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 2 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.