Meteor Activity Outlook for November 18-24, 2023

Boris Häußler captured this bright fireball on June 22, 2023, at 05:14 UT from Antofagasta, Chile. He mentioned that the persistent train lasted 2an impressive 20-30 minutes! ©Boris Häußler

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Monday November 20th. On that morning the half-illuminated moon will be located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight local standard time (LST). As the week progresses, the waxing gibbous moon will set later in the morning hours, shrinking the window of opportunity to view under dark skies. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 4 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 3 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S) For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 22 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 13 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). Evening rates are reduced due to moonlight. The actual rates seen 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 brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.

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 November 18/19. 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. I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart is the sky directly overhead at the appropriate hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating the charts to the desired direction. 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. Radiants that rise after midnight will not reach their highest point in the sky until daylight. For these radiants, it is best to view them during the last few hours before dawn. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at its radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies toward 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 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

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The Andromedids (AND) are the annual debris encountered from the remains of comet 3D/Biela. These meteors should not be mistaken for the great meteor storms of the 19^th century as those meteors are in a slightly different orbit and irregularly encountered in early December. They are known as the December phi Cassiopeiids (DPC). The AND radiant currently is located near 01:35 (024) +37. This position lies in southeastern Andromeda, 4 degrees northeast of the 2^nd magnitude star known as Mirach (beta Andromedae). This part of the sky is best placed near 2200 LST, when the radiant lies highest above the southern horizon. Current rates would most likely be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 15 km/sec., the average Andromedid meteor would be of very slow velocity.

The omicron Eridanids (OER) was discovered by the Japanese video meteor network SonotaCo from video data obtained during 2007-2008. These meteors are active from October 23 through December 2^nd. Maximum activity is ill-defined and may occur anytime from November 3-27. The date listed in the table represents the midpoint of the activity curve and not the actual date of maximum activity. The radiant is currently located 04:10 (063) -02, which is located in extreme northern Eridanus, 2 degrees southeast of the faint star known as 35 Eridani. This radiant is best placed near 0100 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the southern sky. Rates at this time should be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 27 km/sec., the average OER meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The Southern Taurids (STA) are active from a radiant located at 04:12 (063) +16. This position lies in central Taurus, 1 degree northwest of the 4th magnitude star known as Prima Hyadum (gamma Tauri A). To best see these meteors, one should face southward near 01:00. Rates at this time should be near 1 per hour from the northern hemisphere and less than 1per hour from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 26 km/sec., the average STA meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The Northern Taurids (NTA) are active from a radiant located at 04:17 (064) +27. This area of the sky is located in northwestern Taurus, 5 degrees northeast of the Pleiades. Like the STA’s, to best see these meteors, one should face southward near 01:00. Maximum activity was on November 12^th so rates at this time should be near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 27 km/sec., the average NTA meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The Southern chi Orionids (ORS) are usually included in the totals of the Southern Taurids, as the two radiants are separated by only 5 degrees. Careful study of this area of the sky can separate these two showers. These meteors are active from November 14 through December 16, with maximum activity occurring on December 2^nd. The radiant is currently located at 04:34 (68) +17, which lies in central Taurus, near the spot occupied by the 1st magnitude orange star known as Aldebaran (alpha Tauri). This radiant is best placed in the southern sky near 0100 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 29 km/sec., the average ORS meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.

The November Orionids (NOO) are active from November 13 through December 12, with maximum activity occurring on November 30^th. The radiant is currently located at 05:34 (083) +16. This area of the sky lies on the Orion/Taurus border, 6 degrees north of the 4th magnitude star known as Meissa (lambda Orionis A). This radiant is best placed in the southern sky near 0200 LST, when it lies highest above the  horizon. Rates should be near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 44 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed.

The Monocerotids (MON) become active this week from a radiant located at 05:44 (086) +11. This area of the sky is located in northern Orion, 2 degrees northeast of the 4th magnitude star known as Meissa (lambda Orionis A). This position is 5 degrees away from the NOO radiant so care must be taken to differentiate between these two showers. This radiant best placed near 0200 LST, when it lies highest in the southern sky. Rates should be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 45 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of medium speed. This shower is active from November 23^rd through December 24^th, with maximum activity occurring on December 11^th.

It’s mid-November, yet the Geminids (GEM) are making their first appearance this week. These November Geminids were first called the theta Aurigids, but it soon became clear that they and the Geminids were one and the same. The Geminids are active from November 19^th through December 24^th, peaking on December 14^th. The radiant currently lies at 05:48 (087) +35. This area of the sky lies in south-central Auriga, 2 degrees southwest of the 2^nd magnitude star known as Mahasim (theta Aurigae A). These meteors are best seen near 02:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Rates are expected to be less than 1 per hour, no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 31km/sec, most of these meteors would appear to possess a medium velocity.

The sigma Hydrids (HYD) become active this week from a radiant located at 07:17 (109) +06. This area of the sky is located in central Canis Minor, 4 degrees west of the zero-magnitude star known as Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris). These meteors are active from November 24 through January 7^th, with maximum activity occurring on December 7^th. The activity profile is not smooth as there are several minor peaks of activity throughout the activity period. We will highlight these as they occur. To best see these meteors, face toward the south during the last couple of hours prior to dawn. With an entry velocity of 60km/sec, most of these meteors would appear swift.

The alpha Monocerotids (AMO) are best known for their occasional outbursts, the last which occurred in 2019. These meteors are active from November 13-27 with maximum occurring on the 22nd. Rates away from the night of maximum are very low, far less than 1 per hour no matter your location. The radiant is currently located at 07:43 (116) +01. This area of the sky is located in southern Canis Minor, 4 degrees south of the zero-magnitude star known as Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris A). To best see these meteors, face toward the south during the last hours prior to dawn. With an entry velocity of 62km/sec, most of these meteors would appear to be swift.

The last of the Orionids (ORI) are expected this week from a radiant located at 07:49 (117) +16, which places it in southeastern Gemini, 4 degrees west of the 4th magnitude star known as Tegmine (zeta Cancri A). To best see these meteors, face toward the south during the last hours prior to dawn. Current rates are expected to be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 64 km/sec., the average ORI meteor would be of swift velocity.

The Nov. sigma Ursae Majorids (NSU) are a weak shower active from November 17-December 2. Maximum activity occurs on November 24^th. The radiant is currently located at 09:30 (143) +61. This area of the sky lies in western Ursa Major, 4 degrees northwest of the 4^th magnitude star known as upsilon Ursae Majoris. To best see these meteors, face toward the north during the last hours prior to dawn. Current rates are expected to be less than near 1 per hour, no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 52 km/sec., the average NSU meteor would be of medium-swift velocity. Due to the high northern location, these meteors are not well seen from the southern hemisphere.

The Leonids (LEO) are active from November 3^rd to December 2nd with maximum activity occurring on November 18^th. The radiant is currently located at 10:19 (155) +21. This position lies in northwestern Leo, 1 degree northwest of the 3rd magnitude double star known as Algieba (gamma Leonis A). The Leonid radiant is best placed in the southeastern sky during the last hour before morning twilight when the radiant lies highest in the northern sky. Leonids may be seen from the southern hemisphere, but the viewing conditions are not quite as favorable as those north of the equator. Current rates are expected to be near 5 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 3 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 70 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of swift speed with numerous persistent trains on the brighter meteors.

Sporadic meteors are those meteors that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers are evolving and disperse over time to the point where they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of the major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night. As seen from the mid-Northern Hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see during this period approximately 12 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 1 per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between these listed figures.

You can keep track of the activity of these meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal. You can move the sky globe to see different areas of the sky. Colored dots indicate shower meteors while white dots indicate sporadic (random) activity. The large orange disk indicates the position of the sun so little activity will be seen in that area of the sky.

The list below offers the information in tabular form of the showers that I feel are within reach of the visual observer to discern. Hourly rates are often less than 1 but noting parameters such as the duration, radiant distance and the elevation of each meteor, one can compute the probability of shower association. Most showers discovered by video means have rates less than 1 meteor per night away from maximum, so the showers listed in these articles are not as weak as they seem. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Class Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their intensity:

• Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates normally ten or better.
• Class II: reliable minor showers with ZHR’s normally two to ten.
• Class III: showers that do not provide annual activity. These showers are rarely active yet have the potential to produce a major display on occasion.
• Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s rarely exceeding two. The study of these showers is best left to experienced observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to determine shower association. These weak showers are also good targets for video and photographic work. Observers with less experience are urged to limit their shower associations to showers with a rating of I to III.

Tags: Alpha Monocerotids Andromedids Geminids Leonids Meteors Monocerotids Northern Taurids November Meteor Activity November Orionids November sigma Ursae Majorids Omicron Eridanids Orionids Sigma Hydrids Southern chi Orionids Southern Taurids

Robert Lunsford

Bob has been interested in the stars as far back as he can recall His first experience with meteors was a biggie, the 1966 Leonid shower. In 1980, a major awaking occurred. He received a sample copy of Meteor News. He was amazed to learn there was a group actually devoted strictly to meteor observing! He joined the group also started to view some of the minor showers list among the pages of Meteor News. Lastly, he was contracted by Springer Publishing in 2007 to write a book on observing meteors. The book is now available and hopefully will be a useful guide to all interested in the enjoyable field of meteor observing.