Active Meteor Showers

As of 05-Dec-2024

Northern Taurids

Parent Body: Comet 2P/Encke
Radiant Constellation: Taurus
Radiant RA: 4h
Radiant Dec: +22°
Start Date: 10/20
Peak Date: 11/12
End Date: 12/10
Meteor Velocity: 29 km/s
Hourly Rate: 5
The Taurids are an annual meteor shower associated with the comet Encke. The meteors are very spread out and diffuse. The Taurids are extremely long-lasting, but usually don't offer more than about 7 meteors per hour. That is true even on the North Taurids' peak night.

Geminids

Parent Body: 3200 Phaethon
Radiant Constellation: Gemini (near Castor)
Radiant RA: 07h 28m
Radiant Dec: +32°
Start Date: 12/4
Peak Date: 12/14
End Date: 12/17
Meteor Velocity: 35 km/s
Hourly Rate: 120
The Geminid meteor shower is nearly 200 years old, according to known records and is still going strong. In fact, it's growing stronger. That's because Jupiter's gravity has tugged the stream of particles from the shower's source, the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, closer to Earth over the centuries. The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year. The meteors from this shower are slow moving, can be seen in December and usually peak around December 13-14, with the date of highest intensity being the morning of December 14.