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What are the lights that can be seen shooting through the night sky? Are they shooting stars or maybe U.F.Os? Some of them are actually meteors. A meteor is a piece of space debris that starts burning up as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. When high concentrations of meteors enter the Earth’s atmosphere, it is called a meteor shower. Meteor showers are when Earth travels through a concentrated area of space debris such as a comet’s dust tail. The debris in the dust tail then creates a streak of light as it burns up. Earth travels through the same space debris every year which is why astronomers are able to predict when a certain meteor shower is visible. Many people go outside to observe these meteor showers. Often, the best place to observe them are in the darkest areas possible, away from lights, and where there is minimal light from the moon. When viewing these meteor showers, it may take at least 30 minutes for your to adjust to the darkness before you will be able to achieve the best view.

There are many different meteor showers. They appear to emanate from constellations, which is where their names originate. For instance, the  Perseid meteor shower appears to originate from the constellation Perseus.

Perseids is a meteor shower that is visible in the month of August. This meteor shower happens yearly when Earth passes through the comet Swift-Tuttle's dust tail. Swift-Tuttle’s nucleus is about 16 miles wide. As Earth passes through the densest part of the comet's tail, you will be able to see more meteors per hour. Perseid is remembered for its bright and fast meteors. Many people consider this meteor shower to be the best meteor shower of the year. On average, Perseids produces 80 meteors per hour, but, in certain years, there can be up to 150 to 200 meteors per hour which can travel up to 133,200 miles per hour.

Geminid is a meteor shower that is visible in the month of December. This meteor shower also happens yearly, but it is caused when the Earth passes through the asteroid 3200 Phaethon’s tail. This is one of the only two meteor showers that does not originate from a comet’s dust tail. In order to see meteors with longer tails, look slightly away from the constellation Gemini. You will still see meteors by looking at Gemini directly, but they will have shorter tails. This meteor shower was first discovered in 1833. Currently Geminids produces 120-160 meteors per hours under the best conditions but, according to astronomers, it is growing to stronger and stronger every year. This is due to Jupiter pulling the asteroid 3200 phaeton closer to Earth.

Orionids is a meteor shower that is visible in the month of October. This meteor shower happens yearly also and is seen when Earth passes through the tail of Halley’s Comet. These meteors can travel up to 148,000 miles per hour. It is named from Orion the constellation (the hunter). If you see the constellation Orion look toward the shape of his sword. This is where to find the brightest meteors with the longest tails. It is believed by many people that the brighter meteors are fragments that reach the ground but this is not true with Orionids. These tiny comet fragments are the size of a grain of sand and burn up before reaching the Earth.

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Since last Sunday, Halley's comet offspring have been swirling through the night sky delighting star gazers all around the world. This coming weekend, however, the Orionids will be at their peak and full splendor - your definitely don't want to miss it!

This time of year, the moon sets at about midnight, which offers more time for catching shooting stars in the darkness. This couldn't come at a better time for the Orionid meteor shower, which will reach its peak activity in the post-midnight hours of October 21 and 22. Predicting the moment or even the hour where the highest density of meteor debris will enter Earth's atmosphere is an extremely difficult feat for astronomers, but all the better. It's the perfect pretext for you and your friends or family to lean back and enjoy the spectacle all night long. Enthusiasm is a great fuel for burning the midnight oil in expectation of the night sky climax.

The shower originates from the Halley comet, and has its name from the constellation in the sky where it's easiest to spot - Orion the Hunter. The meteors are particularly fast - swirling at up to 66 kilometres per second - and can be spotted in a yellow or green color, depending on atmospheric conditions. Anyway, be sure to leave the city and head from a spot where the skyline is clear - you don't need any telescope to enjoy this awesome astronomical event. Just a fine dispositions and great company.

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Orionids meteor shower peak weekend 2012

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Since last Sunday, Halley's comet offspring have been swirling through the night sky delighting star gazers all around the world. This coming weekend, however, the Orionids will be at their peak and full splendor - your definitely don't want to miss it!

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Orionids meteors travel 148,000 mph.

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It is found in Halley's comet.

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No, according to astronomers it is getting stronger and stronger every year.

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Can have 80 or more meteors per hour. In certain years it can have up to 150 to 200 meteors per hour.

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You can see 120 to 160 meteors per hour

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It comes from the asteroid 3200 phaethon tail.

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Breaking Christian News Source: World, Business | The Gospel Herald

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It is a perfect time to spend with someone special. Grab a coat and look at the beautiful night sky. The Geminid meteor shower will be in full swing in the nights of Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. Veteran sky watchers said it is going to be the best meteor shower this year.

The Slooh Community Observatory will stream the spectacular sky display on Monday Dec. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. EST (2300 GMT). It will be hosted by astronomy expect Paul Cox. The live stream will feature different views from five countries on four continents. Visit the observatory's website for more details: http://www.slooh.com.

The live telecast is for curious science fans that do not have an opportunity to watch the Geminid meteor shower directly. But if you're located in the Northern Hemisphere, you can see it live in your own eyes, just be sure to cover up before going outside.

According to the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in the United Kingdom, meteor showers are best seen with the naked eye. Telescopes and binoculars could not only distract your sky watching experience. Also, keep in mind that viewing conditions may vary depending on what time viewers look skyward.

LA times published that you can look at the meteors in the early evening just after the sun sets. During that time, the meteors have long, dramatic streaks of light that linger in the sky for a few seconds.

Later in the evening, around 10 p.m. PST, the light trails on the meteors will be shorter, but they are more prolific. The best way to observe the Geminids is to find the darkest spot in the sky.

The "shooting stars" that can be observe during meteor shower event are pieces of rocks burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The annual Gemined meteor showers are the debris of cosmic object called 3200 Phaethon. Our planet passes through the pathway of the debris once every year. It is called Gemined because it appears to radiate from a point in the constellation Gemini.

NASA reported that 3200 Phaethon was "long thought to be an asteroid," but they now considered it as "extinct comet," which means that water ice and other materials on its surface are now totally evaporated, leaving only its rocky body. Moreover, 3200 Phaethon is just three miles wide, and it orbits the sun once every 1.4 years.

Most meteors are visible at around 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) up. Some large meteors splatter, causing a brighter flash called a fireball, which can be observe even during daytime and heard up to 30 miles (48 km) away.

Veteran sky watchers advised first time observers should try to refrain from glancing at their cellphones, because it might ruin their vision. Moreover, cover up with warm clothes and blankets. Enjoy the night while watching the beautiful universe.

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2015 Geminid Meteor Shower Tonight Live Stream (Times & Date): Watch Online Best Sky Display of the Year, Best Time and Tips

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It is a perfect time to spend with someone special. Grab a coat and look at beautiful night sky. The Geminid meteor shower will be in full swing in the nights of Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. Veteran sky watchers said it is going to be the best meteor shower this year.

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It is from the dust trail of the comet Swift-Tuttle.

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They appear to come from the constellation Perseus which is where their name comes from.

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go to 0:16-0:55

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Meteor showers bring interplanetary debris, ranging from pebbles to boulders, into Earth's atmosphere. Find out how these dazzling displays come about.

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What's the difference between meteor showers and shooting stars?

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What's the difference between meteor showers and shooting stars?

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A meteor shower is when multiple meteors are burning up while a shooting star is when only one meteor is burning at a time.

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Meteor showers are caused when Earth passes through dust released by a comet. The dust then creates streaks of light in the Earth's atmosphere as they burn up.

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Some can but most meteors never reach surface because they disintegrate.

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Most meteors are smaller than a grain of sand or a pebble.

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Amazing timelapse footage of the Perseids meteor shower shot from Joshua Tree national park in California on Monday night. The meteor show reached its peak last night when the Earth passed through a stream of material falling from the tail of Swift-Tuttle comet. As the tiny fragments of ice and dust strike the Earth's atmosphere they burn up, creating spectacular streaks of light across the night sky. The comet is not due to come as close to the Earth again until 2025
Source: newsflare

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Perseids: breathtaking timelapse video of meteor shower over California

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Amazing timelapse footage of the Perseids meteor shower shot from Joshua Tree national park in California on Monday night. The meteor show reached its peak last night when the Earth passed through a stream of material falling from the tail of Swift-Tuttle comet.

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You can see Orionids in the month of October

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You can see Geminids in the month of December

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1. NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

2. "EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2017." EarthSky. N.p., 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

3. Newsflare, Source:. "Perseids: breathtaking timelapse video of meteor shower over California." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 14 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

4. "Meteor Showers 101." Video. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

5. Writer, Sarah Lewin Staff. "Perseid Meteor Shower 2017: When, Where & How to See It." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

6. Contributor, Elizabeth Howell Space.com. "Geminid Meteor Shower 2017: When, Where & How to See It." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

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We've only been in 2016 for a couple of days, and already stargazers will have their first chance to see a meteor shower, as the Quadrantids are expected to peak during the night and early morning hours of January 3 and January 4, NASA officials confirmed earlier this week.

According to the US space agency, meteor rates are expected to increase after midnight and peak between 3 am and dawn, local time. The western US will have a better look at the show than the east coast.

The Quadrantids peak in early January each year, NASA explained, and "are considered to be one of the best annual meteor showers." Unlike many other meteor showers, they have a rather brief peak (only a few hours versus two days), but during that time, between 60 and 200 can be seen per hour in perfect viewing conditions.

Unfortunately, as Gizmodo pointed out, the Quadrantids can also be one of the most difficult meteor showers to observe, due largely to the small window of peak activity. On the plus side, the waning crescent moon in the sky this weekend should not create any interference.
A meteor shower, a dead comet and a disappearing constellation
Unlike many meteor showers, the Quadrantids are not the result of debris from an ordinary kind of comet, according to Gizmodo. Instead, they are fragments of a dead comet, or asteroid, known as asteroid 2003 EH1 that takes more than five years to complete one journey around the sun.

2003 EH1 is what is known as a "rock comet" and was discovered on March 6, 2003, by experts at the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search (LONEOS). It is only about 3 kilometers in diameter, and debris from this object burning up in the atmosphere causes the Quadrantids.

Like most meteor showers, the Quadrantids were named for a constellation that gives them their radiant, but unlike the Perseids or the Leonids, its constellation is now obsolete. Created in 1795 by French astronomer Jerome Lalande, the constellation "Quadrans Muralis" was removed from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) list of modern constellations in 1922.

"Quadrans Muralis was a super-constellation composed of a combination of stars that are now part of three constellations: The Big Dipper, Bootes, and Dracos," Gizmodo explained. "It was cut almost 100 years ago in favor of a more distinct grouping of three individual constellations - but not before it had given its name to the meteor shower we'll see this weekend."

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Image credit: Thinkstock

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First meteor shower of 2016 to light up the sky this weekend - Redorbit

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We've only been in 2016 for a couple of days, and already stargazers will have their first chance to see a meteor shower, as the Quadrantids are expected to peak during the night and early morning hours of January 3 and January 4, NASA officials confirmed earlier this week.

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You can see Perseids in the month of August

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Perseids meteors enter Earth's atmosphere at the speed of approximately 133,200 mph. This is really fast compared to most meteors.