American Meteor Society
During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Thursday April 14th. On that date the moon will be located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set during the mid-morning hours. This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the late evening hours and will not pose any problems for viewing meteor activity as long as you keep the lunar glare out of your field of view. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for observers located in the northern hemisphere and 4 for observers located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 8 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 11 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). The actual rates 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 brightest meteors will be visible from such locations.
Radiant Positions at 9pm Local Daylight Saving Time
Radiant Positions at 1am Local Daylight Saving Time
Radiant Positions at 5am Local Daylight Saving Time
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 April 9/10. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores 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. 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. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at 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 a 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.
The sigma Leonids (SLE) were first documented by Cuno Hoffmeister back in the 1940’s. Recent analysis show these meteors are active from April 8-25 with maximum activity occurring on the 15th. The radiant is currently located at 13:12 (198) +03. This area of the sky is actually located in central Virgo, 3 degrees east of the 3rd magnitude star known as Auva (delta Virginis). I’m not certain why this source is called the Sigma Leonids as even Hoffmeister placed the radiant in central Virgo, far from the star known as sigma Leonis. Perhaps back then there was a source of activity thought to be in southeastern Leo active at the same time? This radiant is best placed near 0001 local Daylight Saving time when it lies highest above the horizon. Rates are currently less than 1 per hour and may approach 1 per hour at maximum. With an entry velocity of 19 km/sec., the average meteor from this source would be of slow velocity.
The center of the large Anthelion (ANT) radiant is currently located at 14:12 (213) -13. This position lies in southeastern Virgo, 3 degrees south of the faint star known as kappa Virginis. Due to the large size of this radiant, Anthelion activity may also appear from the nearby constellations of Libra, eastern Hydra, and Serpens Caput as well as Virgo. This radiant is best placed near 0200 local Daylight Saving time, when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be near 3 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of slow velocity.
The April rho Cygnids (AEC) were discovered by Dr. Peter Brown during his meteoroid stream survey using the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar. These meteors are active from April 11-May 4 with maximum activity occurring on the 22nd. The radiant is currently located at 20:18 (304) +41. This area of the sky is located in central Cygnus, just 1 degree northwest of the 2nd magnitude star known as Sadr (gamma Cygni). This radiant is best placed during the last hour before dawn when it lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Current rates are expected to be less than 1 per hour. With an entry velocity of 42 km/sec., the average meteor from this source would be of medium velocity. Note that these meteors are synonymous with the Nu Cygnids (Molau and Rendtel, 2009).
The delta Aquiliids (DAL) were discovered by Dr. Peter Jenniskens and mentioned in his book “Meteor Showers and their Parent Comets”. Recent analysis show these meteors are active from April 7-13 with maximum activity occurring on the 9th. At maximum the radiant is located at 20:32 (308) +12. This area of the sky is actually located in central Delphinus just north of the 4th magnitude star known as Deneb Dulfim (epsilon Delphini). This radiant is best placed during the last hour before dawn when it lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Rates at maximum are expected to remain less than 1 per hour. With an entry velocity of 63 km/sec., the average meteor from this source would be of fast velocity.
As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see approximately 5 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 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 3 per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures. The list below offers the information from above in tabular form. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning except where noted in the shower descriptions.
| SHOWER | DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY | CELESTIAL POSITION | ENTRY VELOCITY | CULMINATION | HOURLY RATE | CLASS |
| RA (RA in Deg.) DEC | Km/Sec | Local Daylight Saving Time | North-South | |||
| sigma Leonids (SLE) | Apr 05 | 13:12 (198) +03 | 19 | 01:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| Anthelions (ANT) | – | 14:12 (213) -13 | 30 | 02:00 | 3 – 3 | II |
| April rho Cygnids (AEC) | Apr 22 | 20:18 (304) +41 | 42 | 08:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
| delta Aquiliids (DAL) | Apr 09 | 20:32 (308) +12 | 63 | 08:00 | <1 – <1 | IV |
Sitting outside my apartment in Eleuthera Bahamas..I saw quite a meteor fall..or fireball. It was beautiful. I will watch tonight too.
I didn’t really know what it was. I was driving home at 10;00 at night from a baseball game and I saw a huge blueish ball with a long white tail that got skinny at the end, like a tadpole soar above me. It was heading West. I think it was a meteor but I still don’t know for sure. I looked up pictures and it looks like it was a meteor. Could it have been one?
I saw the green ball of fire in Lockport Illinois
I saw the green meteor in Oakbrook terrace Illinois… I have video of it
My daughter was yelling what was that, I think I saw a shooting star. I could tell it was really something big the way she was yelling, but I had told her it was probably a firework or possibly a shooting star. This must have been what she saw.
I saw the green light tonight in batavia il around 1030pm
Saw a green fireball over Tinley Park IL around 10:15 PM on April 15th. It was amazing to see and moving incredibly fast across the sky.
I think I saw it while driving west on Jefferson street in Joliet Illinois. It seemed that it too was traveling west.
Witnessed a greenish shooting star meteor across the eastern sky, meteor was moving north to south around 1030 pm cdt.
I saw this green flash around 10:20pm, maybe a little earlier, in Winfield! It was really cool!
Three of us saw a HUGE and LOW meteor over the west side of Geneva, IL at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Friday 4/15/16
I was outside Jenny’s Sourhside Tap and I saw a flash & the a streak with a fireball blow out at the end. It was beautiful
Saw the shooting start or whatever it was. It seemed to be moving west/northwest viewed from Naperville Illinois. I cannot recall the time.
Saw a metor flying in the sky about 10:15 p.m. Friday night 4-15-16 this was in romeoville il
I saw it 4 miles east of Fair Oaks, IN about 10:15 PM, coming home from Lafayette, IN.
Big (not huge) , headed to the WNW, one mile west of US 231. Impressive!
Saw large brighter green colored mass move across the sky from east to west. I thought it was a large firework at first. Viewed clearly moving across sky over Reynolds Lake, near Paw Paw Michigan
Fairbury, IL. Was out on my sisters deck in town and saw it – looked like a large falling star with blue and yellow/ orange streaks following it. Most amazing sight I’ve ever seen!
I saw the meteor across the sky while i was having a bonfire at the orland park mosque and i looked up and saw the meteor
Saw the fireball in Montgomery, IL
Or was at first a pale white then green, felt like an eternity, but really only lasted a second or two. Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I saw it near Lake in the Hills , IL 10:15 pm . It was a great view ! I was driving home .
I was driving transport westbound 401, round 11;10pm 04-15-2016
Essex county ontario, around puce road exit 28 east of windsor,
I could see a green meteor light up the sky south of detroit,
it was north west bound,
it went dark for a second then turned to a fireball that fizzled out before it got to close to the earth,
from my vantage point it seemed to hit ground around Grosse ille, downriver Wynodotte area
Seen it twice on my way home one in sherdian and one in sandwich
Saw a huge greenish blue ball of light sail accoss the sky. Even saw what looked like ashes fall behind it as it was shooting through the sky. Biggest meteor ive ever seen by far.
Saw what we thought was a shooting star in monee, il. so beautiful!
I saw the green Meter or whatever it was in libertyville a little after 10 last night
The date was April 15 2016
Saw the green fireball that everyone is talking about in wisconsin. 10:15pm on hwy 43 heading south at Mile marker 146 I believe. .I’ve seen alot but never something like this and this long. Had to be a solid 5 seconds. Amazing !
Yesturday night around 10:15 I saw a green fire ball hitting west in the Chicago skies. Beautiful
I seen a quick flash in the sky last night on my way home to cissna park, Illinois. At first I thought it was a shooting star until seeing all the posts about last night.
I saw this in Chillicothe, Illinois. Wasn’t sure what it was, but it was beautiful.
I saw this green fireball or meteor around 10:15 pm on April 15th 2016 as well while i was out walking my dog. I am in Skokie, a northern suburb of Chicago
I saw the fireball/meteor about 10:15 pm or so on April 15, 2016 from Channahon, IL.
I was driving last night around 10:15 and my boyfriend said that he saw something green fly across the sky. I didn’t see it and thought it was a trick of light. He kept going on about aliens lol I’ll definitely show him this article.
Luminescent green well defined spheroid object. Estimated velocity 7000 kmh. Vertical altitude, an estimated 1300 m. Traveling from an east to northwest direction. Viewed at an angle of inclination of 30 degrees; of a size comparable to that of a penny held at arm’s length. Uniform in color; no discernible trail, whatsoever. Elmhurst IL in the vicinity of York and Grand. Not a “fireball.”
Saw green meteor after 10:00pm from Will County, Illinois.
I was driving home from work last night at approx 11:15 and saw this meteor. I live in Indianapolis, IN.
Saw a green fireball over Naperville Illinois
Was at the Alton Carnival yesterday somewhere around 10 and saw something green just gliding across the sky ( only lasted a few seconds) then it dissapeared. I was assuming it was a meteor.
My friends and I saw it and it flew like 15 feet above are heads and it looked like it landed in a patch a trees but we were kinda scared so we ran because we didn’t know what it was we saw it around 10:00 pm – 10:20 pm
The green meteor was seen at 10:15 in. Portage, Indiana. I was traveling on 80/94 highway. It was beautiful. It looked like a shooting star but with bright green color. Amazing.
As I was leaving my job, NE side of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about 10:15-10:20 pm, I seen this. It was pretty cool, but it happened so fast that I didn’t get my cell phone out in time to get a picture. I wasn’t sure what it was. It was pretty cool.
I live in Tamaroa, Illinois. I seen it while taking my dog out for one last time before bed.I think it was a meteor. But it was blueish green.
Last night around 10:30 I seen a green ball of fire that faded in to yellow and disappeared in East Peoria IL, it was so close and so bright, I have NVR seen anything like that be down so low, and it was happening slowly that everybody was able to turn around and spot it. Then a 1 later we heard a loud bang!!!
I saw the green thing falling last night from possum trot , KY. It was very pretty.
We were sitting around a fire and saw it in lincoln Il
i seen it flying over my town which was in Milford, IL
Saw the most beautiful meteorite last night, was bright green with a red and green tail. Was driving on the interstate in KY. When I see something like this it makes me wonder if I’m the only one that saw it, and that is special.
I do believe you i saw April 26 going home from Beaumont to temecula I saw the mazing thing in front of my eyes about maybe 400 feet the most beautiful bright green and red tail dropped to the earth with sound it is very hard to believe also knowing what aria dropped I do also could see in side that and the shape that object I know lots of detail of that I am very happy that happen to me and I know how you feel
My friend Mandi White and I where riding around in Monroe City, Missouri 63456 around 10:15pm last night and saw a big green fire ball shooting across the sky.
Seen a streak like fireball over pontoon beach il at bout 1015pm
My wife and I were traveling south bound on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee Wisconsin at about 10:15 Friday night April 15th 2016. We both saw a green fire ball streak across the sky from east to west. It looked as though a small piece broke off as it faded away into the night.
Myself and two others witnessed a brilliant light streak acroos the sky in Tolono, IL at around 20:15 CST on April 15th 2016. The colors were AMAZING! Brilliant Blues, electric yellows, and blazing reds; were just a few of the colors we were able to witness!!
Saw the greenish blue light in sky 4/15/16 near Guthrie IL Aprox 1015p.m.
We seen it in Mason City,IL
I saw it last night while driving home it was the most beautiful green I have ever seen!, I live in indiana
I saw a small green flash fall from the sky at approximately 10:15 pm April 15. I live in deep southern Illinois.
It was seen in Fairfield il
Seen meteor in attica indiana
I seen a fireball last night at around 10:15 by Danville illinois it was beautiful it can by so fast and you could see a blue ish green ish gas coming from the back it happen so fast but was so pretty I thought it was a falling star lol but pretty amazing
This was definitely clear and visible from Champaign, IL.
We got to witness the coolest thing lastnight at approximately 10:16pm. We were driving on Hwy 19 just east of Mexico Missouri when this ball of light came falling from the sky. At first we thought it was a firework, then we decided it was a shooting star or meteor. Either way, it was huge and bright! Of course my son and I made a wish on it, thinking it was a shooting star, but it was different. It had a light streak tail on it that started as white at the very end, turning yellow more towards the ball of fire, then it looked like red and either a blue or green fire ball. I have never seen anything like this, but definitely something worth being excited over for us!
We were driving between Niles, MI and New Buffalo, MI Friday night. Saw this bright green streak in the sky. First thought was FIREWORKS as it was so bright and seemed so near. Amazing. There are no city lights in this area so it was incredibly bright. Totally clear sky. Nancy
Sitting in my apartment on the west side of Downtown Chicago, I saw a bright green streak across the sky while looking South out my window. The streak lasted at least 2 seconds and appeared to be heading west. It was by far the largest and brightest meteor I have ever seen. It happened about 10:15pm CST on Friday evening, 4/15/16.
I live in Sullivan Indiana about less than twenty minouyes from Illinois state line n I seen what I thought was a shooting star or something but it was green
YES!! We did see a fireball/meteorite last night, sometime between 10 and 10:30PM! Amazing!!!
We saw a green streak go thru the sky on April 15, 2016 around 10:30 p.m that looked like a shooting star. We were in Valparaiso, indiana
I saw the green meteor flash accross the sky while I was driving home from Columbia il, heading into Dupo, IL but facing St.Louis MO. It was massive, and I told my gf that I saw the biggest shooting star ever and from what I was telling her she said it had to be a firework. But it was this no doubt!
I was.leaving work last night at 10pm and headed south on us route 39 going to pa
Sitting in my living room in Burlington,IL last night around 10:15 pm and I saw a green disk move across the sky and disappear.
Was outside enjoying the evening with a friend and saw a green streak, probably a meteorite falling through the sky in Mt. Vernon, IL. Was an amazing sight. It seemed so close!
Was walking my dog, in my Mequon, WI neighborhood around 10:15 pm on Fri April 15 2016.
We were walking towards the south, a bright emerald green fireball went shooting through the sky from east to west
After just a few seconds it was out of my range of vision. There was no sound associated with the sighting.
I wished it had just remained suspended in the sky allowing me to observe it for more than just a brief few seconds.
It was spectacular!!
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I saw it late Friday nite in Gillespie, Illinois
Saw the green one Friday in Goshen, IN!!!
Friday nite, 4/15/16 about 10:15 pm I was taking out the trash an saw what I thought was a shooting star streaming across the sky. It was beautiful! On my way back up to the house, I thought, shooting stars aren’t in color, this had white, green and red like a firework shooting in the sky. I got back in the house an the weather was on talking about the metorite, first time ever saw one, an here I am 64yrs. old. Beautiful site to see. Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
I saw that one reported on Friday, Apr 15th. I was on my way home from work at Universal Electronics in Whitewater, WI.
We were outside by the fire pit with some friends around 10:20pm when we saw a green fireball in the sky. We weren’t sure what it was until we saw the news article. We’re in Dayton, IN.
I saw what looked like the end of it because it came from the east, looked blue at first but turned green as it went northwest. As we watched it go by, it appeared to go down in the field across the highway from us because it didn’t just disappear. It’s like it landed or went out. We are in Meadowbrook (Bethalto), IL. It was pretty darn awesome. We did think it was a shooting star.
Friday night April, 15 2016 @ 10:17, my boyfriend and I were on our way home from Madison, Wisconsin traveling south towards Oregon, Wisconsin when we seen what we thought was a falling star. It was huge, bright sea green color. It was traveling west. We watched it for at least 7 seconds till it went out. The closer it got the greener it became. I have never seen anything so large and so beautiful.
Saw the greenish blue one fly thru the skies this last friday in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Was really cool .
I saw it in macoupin county IL.
Saw the blue green comet/meteor in the southern sky on 4/15/2016 around 10:15 pm. It was bright and glowing with a long tail. Went from the eastern horizon to the west. My husband saw the same thing, at the same time. Only he was in a town 60 miles away. Spectacular!
I saw a green flash as I was on the entrance ramp to I-55 at Joliet Road, southbound, in Indian Head Park. This flash was not high in the sky at all. It was very low – maybe a few stories high – traveling over the cars westbound. I thought it was some sort of fireworks, but it was only one streak that was rounded and very bright green at the large end in front with a light-colored streak for the rest of it. It didn’t last long – maybe 5 seconds and then it just wasn’t there. There were no noises or sparks.
i saw a green fire ball in the sky last night around 9pm.. chembur, bombay, india..
saw it in florida
Seen a green flaming ball come out of the sky near derry nh right after the sky lit up green… thing was huge!
I was making a pizza delivery around 9:30 pm when i saw a really bright light streaking across the sky it was blue and white. What an awsome sight. I saw it in kenosha