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Meteor Showers Guide 2013

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See the Almanac's Meteor Showers Guide for 2013 for the dates of all the principal meteor showers during the year—plus viewing tips.

Meteor Showers Viewing Tips

  • To answer the most common question: Yes, you can see these meteor showers from ANYWHERE in the sky, provided it's clear and dark, away from all the city lights.
  • Where to look? The best place to start is near the radiant or "point of origin" of the meteor shower. This is where the flight course starts from.
  • On below chart, see the "date of maximum" which shows when meteor showers will be the strongest.
  • Note that the "best viewing" times are usually predawn and late evening—when the Earth turns into the path of meteoroids as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
  • You don't need any special equipment. In fact, binoculars do not work for meteor showers. The naked eye is best.
  • Spread a blanket on the ground and look up in the dark night sky.

For more information, click here to read our article, "What are Meteor Showers: Facts About Shooting Stars."

2013 Meteor Showers Guide

Note that the meteor shower dates do not change much from year to year.

2012 Meteor shower chart

  • "Predawn" means an hour or so before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
  • "Late evening" means approximately between 10 pm and midnight (or a little past).

In general, most major meteor showers are best seen after midnight; some do not even appear until after then. Usually, a better time to see them is after 2 a.m., and the best time is about an hour or so just before morning twilight. Geminids, however, can be seen starting earlier, such as around 9 or 10 pm, until morning twilight. Sometimes Draconids may be visible at nightfall through early evening.

See the monthly Sky Watch for highlights of the night sky and a printable sky map!

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Comments

I would like to know were can

By Yesenia Valentin

I would like to know were can we fine a shooting star in Lancaster PA

Yesenia, Look at the chart on

By Almanac Staff

Yesenia, Look at the chart on this page for the schedule. As mentioned above, you can see the meteor showers mentioned in this chart anywhere in North America -- as long as the night is clear and dark (away from city lights).

12-21-12 what were the

By CockY

12-21-12 what were the lighting sort of lights 2am to 5am there was a big snow storm going on it would light things up for 5 seconds or so this was in Northern california (shasta County)

I just saw a bunch

By Mary Allan

I just saw a bunch

I missed last nights shower

By vistor196302703

I missed last nights shower and I was wondering if the dates were 13-14 because it occurred after midnight or if I could be so lucky to see it again tonight?

HI! I'd like to know if there

By Jae

HI! I'd like to know if there will be any meteor shower tonight here in Canada? It's happened in the Philippines last night, Philippine time, and I was wondering if we'd be able to see it here too?

germanid is due december

By tjmeister101

germanid is due december 13-14 best seen in the NE but will it be seeable in Santa Fe, TX?

Yes, the Geminid meteors

By Almanac Staff

Yes, the Geminid meteors peaks on Dec. 13-14 anywhere in North America (the area which the Almanac covers).

Do you think I'd see these

By gazer

Do you think I'd see these somewhere near the Kangamangus Highway or at the peak?

Hi, i am from Saudi Arabia,

By syed ali Kashif

Hi,

i am from Saudi Arabia, my daughter loves stars, can you please advise that, will we be able to see these in saudi arabia and if yes, what will be the suitable date time for that

Thanks
Ali

Hello, Ali, You may find this

By Almanac Staff

Hello, Ali, You may find this Web site useful as it shows viewing information from all over the world: http://www.spacedex.com/
I hope this helps, the OFA

The other night during the

By heidimarie

The other night during the orionid shower me and my fiance was outside and i saw three meteotites within 5 minutes.. 2 small faint ones and one big bright one in the same direction east. My fiance didnt get to see them. Everytime i saw them he was looking the wrong direction.. we both love the sky and have seen showers before. But each and every shower is amazing.. we live in butler pa but the best meteorite showers i have ever seen was in west virginia where i was born and raised!! So beautiful!! I love the sky stars moon etc.. its so amazing and full of wonder!! Happy hunting everyone!! :)

Hello. Do you know when the

By cs

Hello. Do you know when the next meteor shower that can be seen clearly in Connecticut, please?

No matter what you live, you

By Almanac Staff

No matter what you live, you can see these meteor showers. The Orionid meteor shower peaks Sunday, October 21. The best time to look is the dark hours before sunrise on Sunday.

i saw a very bright flying

By stein de moor

i saw a very bright flying object in july it was so bright and flyinn gall the way across the sky limit i was kind of amazed. i thought it couldnt have been a satelite since there must be rules for satalites not to be that bright. it flew pretty fast almost all across the sky. i wasnt prepared for it and am glad i got to see it. it was very stunning or amazing and i gave it all my attention i was like; WOW!!

i live in the netherlands...

By stein de moor

i live in the netherlands... it was and july or begin august.

My son is 5, and got to see

By B. Butler

My son is 5, and got to see the Perseids meteor shower! He loved it! In April of 1997 I saw the HaileBop comet! It looked loke a giant dimond with dimond dust trailing it! That was the most ENCHANTING creation I had ever seen in my life!!!!

Is there any chance that

By Anita Danna

Is there any chance that Perseid will continue the night of 8/12 into the morning of 8/13? and be visible in Florida?

Yes, the Perseids will

By Almanac Staff

Yes, the Perseids will continue until late August — but the show peaked from late on the 11th through the early hours of the 12th.

Hi I live in Houston TX and

By Koblitz

Hi I live in Houston TX and when is the best time exactly to see the perseid meteor shower?

The best time to observe the

By Almanac Staff

The best time to observe the Perseids is between midnight and sunrise; that's when the Earth will be colliding head-on with the meteor stream.

What time would be best to

By V.bruce

What time would be best to watch the meteor shower in southern Califorina?

The best time to observe the

By Almanac Staff

The best time to observe the Perseids is between midnight and sunrise; that's when the Earth will be colliding head-on with the meteor stream.

I have watched the Perseid

By rdmbck6

I have watched the Perseid meteor shower for years and it is a yearly event here with a few friends.

Just wanted to know if there

By Mr Knoxville

Just wanted to know if there were any meteor showers visible in New Jersey coming up

Yes, you can see any of the

By Almanac Staff

Yes, you can see any of the meteor showers in the chart above in New Jersey, provided you have a dark sky. The Perseids are coming up!

I am so excited! I have never

By Faith Steele

I am so excited! I have never seen anything more than shooting star and I'm like 11. It will probably be especially easy to see where I'm from, which is Grantsville, four mile radias and no building bigger than the elementry school. I think this is gonna be great!!!!!!!

I just saw a comet in the sky

By CJplus3

I just saw a comet in the sky on my way home from my in-law's, and was curious if the meteor shower due to show tonight would be visible from New Hampshire? Was my first time ever seeing a shooting star or comet or meteor or anything, and it was breathtaking :)

Perhaps you mean you saw a

By Stargezer

Perhaps you mean you saw a meteor. The comets I have witnessed during the63 years or so have all been rather faint and one would need to stare in their general direction and concentrate to see them. Meteors,on the other-hand, unexpectedly streak across the sky and grab ones attention.

Hey, this is amazing. I saw

By charlottebeckster

Hey, this is amazing. I saw something I thought was a comet across between 9:30 and 10:00 on Sunday night. I have seen falling stars several times in my life and to me the seemed to fall in downward motion but this seem to be going horizonally across the sky as blazing ball with a tail until it faded out of view. I live in North Caroina. I just happened to see it while sitting out on the porch talking on the phone. I stayed out for hours watching the sky hoping to see something again. I have never seen an event like this before in 45 years of life. Ihave always been somewhat of a sky watcher, but have seemed to miss out on seeing the night sky in the past few years. It definitely is a sight worth a second glance. Amazing!!! :)

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