Earth Sky 2022 Meteor Shower Guide: Lyra is next
A guide to meteor showers in 2022... Next up is Lyra in April
The annual Lyra meteor shower always causes the "meteor shower drought" to disappear from January to mid-April.
When to watch: April 21 and April 22, 2022, can be viewed from the morning until the moonrise. The predicted peak time is 4:00 UTC on April 22. The peak of the Lyra meteor shower is short, cooling daylight, and a bright moon will appear in the sky. Note that this is a dead moon. So the following night, the moon will decrease (late at night on April 22 to dawn on April 23), and the reader may consider observing that night.
Most recent moon phase: In 2022, the second quarter of the moon falls on 23 April at 11:56 UTC.
Radiance point: Rises before 0 o'clock and dawn is at the highest position in the sky. See the chart below for details.
Approximate time period for meteor showers: April 15 to April 29.
Under ideal conditions, expect the peak of the meteor shower: on a dark night without a moon, you will see 10 to 15 Lyra meteor showers per hour.
Note: The Lyra meteor shower can sometimes reach a frequency of up to 100 per hour during unusual periods of turbulence! Xia Wen told more about meteor shower outbreaks. About 1/4 of the Lyra meteor shower will leave a constant "train". The "train" of a meteor shower is an ionized gas-like band that glows a few seconds after the meteor shower appears.
Readers of the Southern Hemisphere note: The radiation point of this meteor shower is far north of the dome of the sky, so Vega only rises a few hours before dawn in the sky where you are located. This is why there are fewer Lyra meteor showers in the southern hemisphere. However, it is still possible to see some!
The Lyra meteor shower radiates from the nearby bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra. You don't need to distinguish between Vega one or Lyra to watch the Lyra meteor shower. But you need to know when the radiation points of the meteor swarm will increase, usually in the northeast before midnight. This is why the Lyra meteor shower is best seen between midnight and dawn, and why the second quarter of 2022 will affect the meteor shower viewing. After the radiant point crosses the horizon, you will see the most meteors. Meteors will radiate from there, but will unexpectedly appear anywhere in the sky. Read more about meteor showers in the Meteor Shower Guide below.
Shooting stars in May... Aquarius η meteor shower
Especially since April's Lyra meteor shower will be overshadowed by moonlight in 2022, many people will see Aquarius η meteor shower this year.
Viewing time: May 4th, 5th and 6th of 2022 are the best to try before dawn. Why before dawn? Take a look at "Radiant Points" below. The American Meteor Association listed May 5's four o'clock (UTC) as the outbreak period of this meteor shower. But the time of different experts varies greatly. And the outbreak period of this meteor shower lasted for several days. So, you can expect the number of meteors to increase in the days around the outbreak.
Most recent moon phase: In 2022, the winding moon sets at 00:21 UTC on May 9. May's 4th, 5th, and 6th is the winding moon, and the Aquarius meteor shower will pour down the pitch-black night sky in 2022.
Radiance: Rises in the early hours of the morning and climbs to its highest point at dawn. So the best time to watch this meteor shower is before dawn
Meteor shower duration: From April 15 to May 27
Shooting stars from late July to mid-August... Delta Aquarius
Predicted peak: 10:00 on 29 July 2022 (UTC). But this time the appearance did not have a very dramatic peak. Peaks change steadily between late July and early August, combined with Perseid in August.
Viewing time: Watch from midnight to sunrise from the end of July to the beginning of August.
Meteor shower duration: July 18 to August 21.
Radiance point: rises at midnight, peaks at two in the morning, and disappears into the sky before sunrise. See the table below.
Moon phases at that time: On July 28, 2022, the crescent moon sets at 17:55 (UTC). Then the full moon will set at 1:36 (UTC) on August 12. Take advantage of the moonless morning from late July to early August to observe the Delta meteor shower (and Perseid) in the constellation.
Under ideal conditions, the peak of meteors is expected: on moonless nights, Delta Aquarius passes by a maximum of between 15 and 20 per hour. If you're watching in early August, especially without the moon obscuring your view, you'll usually see many meteors mixed with Delta Aquarius and Perseus.
Note: Aquarius Eta meteor shower in May, Delta Aquarius in July prefers to patronize the southern hemisphere. Astronomical observers in the higher latitudes of the Northern Latitude are greatly reduced in their ornamentality. But from latitudes like the southern United States, this meteor shower could be very good. The Delta Aquarius meteor shower may be fainter than perseus. So a night without a moon is necessary. About 5% to 10% of Delta Aquarius meteors leave long-lasting traces, and the meteors pass by to form a trajectory of emitting ionizing gas for one or two seconds.
The Aquarius meteor radiates from near Scat in Aquarius (aka Aquarius). It was almost shiny like the North Fall Division Gate. From the end of July to the beginning of August, the Beiluoshi Gate hangs high in the sky at 2 o'clock in the morning. (No matter where you are.) For the Northern Hemisphere, it is on the southern side, and in the Southern Hemisphere it is almost overhead. The North Gate is lonely and shining in the sky. To find it, we can draw a roughly southward line between the stars on the west side of the Great Quadrilateral in pegasus.
The Perseid meteor shower occurs from early to mid-August
Perseid Meteor Shower Maximum Time Forecast: August 13, 2022 at 1:00 a.m. (GMT).
Viewing time: The 2022 Perseid meteor shower maximum time will be in full moon on the evening of the same night. But this meteor shower gradually reached its peak and then quickly disappeared. From late night to early morning, the number of meteor showers increases over time. The meteor shower is most spectacular at dawn. Therefore, from late at night to early August to mid-August 2022, the moon phase gradually turns into a full moon every night, the night sky will become brighter and brighter, and the bright night will last longer and longer. Since the brightness of the moon obscures the brightness of the meteor shower, it is not suitable for viewing meteor showers.
Meteor shower duration: July 14 to September 1, 2022.
Radiance points: rise in the middle of the night, and rise to the highest point at dawn, as detailed in the table below.
Moon phases: The full moon sets on August 12 at 1:36 a.m. (GMT). The full moon is always present at the maximum of the Perseid meteor shower. The end of July to the beginning of August is the best time to observe the Perseid and Aquarius meteor showers.
Under ideal conditions, the peak of the meteor shower is expected: on a moonless night, observers can see 90+ meteors per hour.
Note: The Perseid meteor shower is spectacular from the beginning of August to mid-August. Meteor showers are colorful and continuous. The perseid meteor shower is therefore probably the most popular meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Draco meteor shower that appeared in early October
Forecast Peak: October 9, 2022 at 1:00 a.m. GMT (October 8, 2022)
Observation time: 2022 is a dark window period without Draco meteor shower observations. If you want to observe in the moonlight, you can try it on the evening of February 8.
Overall duration of the meteor shower: October 8 to 9
Radiance Point: Rises to its highest point in the sky at night. See the table below for details.
Moon phases: Reach full moon on October 9 at 20:55 GMT. In 2022, moonlight during or near a full moon will flood most of the Draco meteor shower.
Under ideal conditions, expect the peak of the meteor shower: on a night without a moon, 10 meteors may be seen every hour.
Note: The Draco meteor shower is a true spectacle, with radiant points reaching the highest point in the sky when night falls. This means that, unlike other meteor showers, many Draco meteor showers may descend in the late afternoon rather than approaching the morning time after midnight. This meteor shower is usually a sleeper, and in most years, there are only a few lazy meteors per hour. However, if the "dragon wakes up" it is necessary to be careful. In rare cases, the passionate Draco meteor shower produces hundreds of meteors in an hour. This possibility allows many observers to stay outside during meteor showers, even in moonlight.
The radiation point of the Draco meteor shower almost coincides with the head of the northern filler constellation Draco. That's why it's best to see the Draco meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere. This picture faces north at nightfall in October. The Big Dipper is low in the northwest direction. From the southern United States and similar latitudes, obstacles on the northern horizon may obscure the view of the Big Dipper in October. From farther south, such as the southern hemisphere, at this time of year, the Big Dipper cannot be seen at night. However, if you can find it in the sky, you can use the Big Dipper to find the North Star. The North Star is the last star on the small Big Dipper handle. Found all these stars? Then you should also be able to find the two stars, Eltanin and Rastaban, the radiant point in the constellation Draco, that hung high in the northwest at nightfall in early October. The Draco meteor shower is radiated from nearby stars and is known as the Longan.
Orion meteor in late October
Expected peak: 21 November 2022, 18:00 (UTC)
Observation time: Wait for the Orion meteor after midnight on October 20 and 21 and in the early morning before sunrise.
Overall duration of the meteor shower: November 26 - December 22
Radiant points: Radiant points reach their highest point before midnight and then continue to about two points in the sky. See the table below.
Moon phases: At 10:49 on October 25, the crescent moon sets. So, when Orion peaks, the moon will be in the remnant moon phase and rise early in the morning. It will be on top, but not too bright. You can even admire the decline of the crescent moon while watching Orion in 2022.
Under ideal conditions, the peak of the meteor shower is expected: on a moonless night, the maximum number of meteors in The constellation Orion is 10-20 per hour.
Note: These fast-moving meteors occasionally leave lasting traces. Orion sometimes produces dazzling fireballs.
If you track Orion meteors on the zenith, they seem to radiate from the famous Orion Club hanging high above. This is the radiation point of the meteor shower. The bright star near the radiation point is the red Betelgeuse.
From October to early November... Taurus in the south and north
Expected Peak: The predicted peak in Taurus South is 18:00 on November 5, 2022 (UTC). The peak of the Northern Taurus forecast is 18:00 on November 12, 2022 (UTC). But taurus in the south and north does not have a very clear peak. They are short-lived in the sky in October and November, from late October to early November, especially striking when they overlap.
Observation time: Preferably around midnight in late October to early November.
Overall duration of the meteor shower: The Southern Branch Taurus is between around September 23 and November 12. The active period of the Northern Branch Taurus is around October 13 to December 2.
Radiance Point: Rises at dusk and peaks in the sky at midnight. See the table below.
Moon phases: In 2022, the crescent moon will fall on October 25. The full moon is on November 8th. So late October — where these two meteor showers overlap and there is no moon — could be the best time for Taurus in 2022. But you'll observe Taurus meteors in October and November. This custom sunrise calendar can show the time of the moon rising in your location. Be sure to tick the time frame when the moon rises.
Under ideal conditions, the peak of the meteor shower is expected: on moonless nights, the Taurus meteor shower in the south and north produces about 5 meteors per hour (a total of 10 when they overlap). In 2022, watch the fire meteors.
Note: Taurus meteors tend to move slowly, but are sometimes very bright. Meteor showers can sometimes produce fireballs that could reappear in 2022. The American Meteor Association states that the cycle of a Taurus fireball is "seven years." Fireballs were produced in both 2008 and 2015. 2022 is also possible. The most recent Pyromeres taurus meteor appeared in 2015 and is very interesting. Image. See them in 2022.
The Taurus meteor consists of two tributaries, the Taurus meteor in the south and the Taurus meteor in the north. Both branches appear to have originated in taurus. Unsurprisingly, when Taurus is high in the sky, you may see the most meteors at midnight.
Shooting stars in mid-November... Leo meteor
Expected peak: 0:00 utc, 18 November 2022.
Observation time: Watch on the evening of November 17 until the moonrise.
Radiance Point: Rises at midnight and the sky is highest at dawn.
Moon Phases: In 2022, the last quarter of the Moon will fall on November 16.
Under ideal conditions, expect a peak for a meteor shower: On a moonless night, you might see 10 to 15 Leo meteors per hour.
note:
Quadrant meteor shower in early January 2023
Viewing time: The best night to observe the 2023 Quadrant meteor shower is January 3-4 (*), which is expected to peak on January 4. The bright moon, which is close to a full moon, glows almost the entire night. Try the late night in the moonlight in the early hours of January 3-4. Or try a truly dark moment, after the moon appears, before dawn on January 4.
The most recent moon phase: The full moon will arrive on January 6, 2023.
Radiance Point: Rises in the northeast north after midnight and reaches its highest level before dawn. The radiation point of the Quadrant Meteor Shower is located in a now obsolete constellation, the sign Quadrant. Today, we see the brilliance of the famous Big Dipper near the seven stars. Because the radiation point of the Quadrant meteor shower is far north of the sky dome, this is mainly a meteor shower in the far north, which is not so good for the southern hemisphere.
Ideal conditions: Under ideal conditions, in a dark sky without a moon, when the radiation point in the sky is very high, the Quadrant Meteor Shower can produce more than 100 meteors per hour.
Meteor Shower Duration: According to a 2017 article in Icarus magazine, the Quadrantids meteor shower lasts from mid-November to mid-January each year. At any time during this time, you may see a Pilient meteor. But most meteor activity is concentrated at peaks.
Note: The Quadrantids meteor shower is one of the four major annual meteor showers and has a spike (the other three are Perseus, Gemini, and Leo).
The radiation point of the Quadrantids meteor shower is far north, so it is best seen in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. In the North Central region, the radiation point of the Quadrantids meteor shower crosses the horizon after midnight and peaks before dawn.
Meteor Shower Guide: Photos from Earth's Sky community
Check out earth's sky official website community photos. Colorado photographer Thomas Hollowell, who photographed these Lyra meteor showers on the morning of April 22, 2020, said: "The 6 meteors in this photo were superimposed in a set of 3 background frames using Photoshop software." Thanks, Thomas!
At the peak of the Aita Aquarius meteor shower in May 2016, meteors with long paths through the Milky Way were photographed. By Dara Young.
Delta Aquarium from David S. Brown in southwestern Wyoming in 2014.
The 2017 Perseid meteor shower peaked in moonlight, but that didn't stop Croatia's Šibenik website's Heverje Krnjak from catching this shining Perseid meteor shower on the morning of August 12, 2017. Notice the changes in brightness and color throughout, as well as the small "pop" where the visible range goes straight to the bottom. Such a bright "bang" sound came from a cloud of evaporating debris. Thank you, Hervoye!
In 2013, the Draco meteor shower near Tucson, Arizona, was filmed by our friend Sean Parker.
Orion Meteor Shower in the Aurora Borealis 2013, Photography by Tommy Eliasson, Norway.
In 2015, Taurus staged a spectacular fireball show that lasted for many days. 2022 could be the next opportunity it showcases. Photographer Dai Jianfeng took this photo at the high level of Yangzhuo Yongcuo Lake in Tibet.
James Younger posted the photo during the peak leo meteor shower in 2015. Photographed is a meteor over the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest.
Cynthia Hayscock of Troy, North Carolina, took this photo in 2015 (Gemini meteor shower). You can see it, it's bright!
Check out the Earth Sky official website community photos. William Mather took this photo in Linden, Colorado, on Dec. 20, 2019. "My wife and I rushed to the Eastern Plains from 100 miles away to catch one or more meteors in ursa major α meteor shower," he wrote. This photo we took faces due north. As you can see, on the right side of the white chapel is the constellation Ursa Major, which points to the North Star, and on the left is a green 'fireball' meteor that flashes in the sky. "Thank you, William!
The Meteor Shower Guide: A Wise Quote
A wise man once said that a meteor shower is like fishing. You just have to enjoy nature. From time to time you will catch something.
Bottom line: Click here for information on all major meteor showers for 2022 and early 2023. There are some good observation opportunities! The next one is... Lyra... By the evening the moon rises, April 21-22 and 22-23, 2022.
**The predicted peak time and date of the 2022 meteor shower comes from the American Meteor Association
The peak time for the 2023 meteor shower was provided by Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society. Please note that forecasts for meteor shower peak hours may vary.
BY：EarthSky
FY：Astronomical volunteer team
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