Meteor Activity Outlook for December 26, 2020-January 1, 2021

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This bright Ursid meteor was captured by Wade Earle in the early evening of December 21, 2020, from eastern Oregon, USA. This was near the same time that this shower was producing an outburst over Europe, where much more activity was visible as the radiant was located higher in the sky during the early morning hours. Credit Wade Earle.

During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Tuesday December 29th. At this time, the moon is located opposite the sun in the sky and will lie above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the morning hours and will leave a small period of time to view under dark conditions between moon set and dawn. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 2 as seen from mid-northern latitudes and 2 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 7 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 5 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). Meteor rates are reduced during this period due to moonlight. 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 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 December 26/27. 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 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.

 

Radiant Positions at 19:00 LST

Radiant Positions at 19:00 Local Standard Time

Radiant Positions at 00:00 LST

Radiant Positions at 00:00 Local Standard Time

Radiant Positions at 05:00 LST

Radiant Positions at 06:00 Local Standard Time

These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week.

Details on each source will continue next week when the moon will be less of a factor.

SHOWER DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY CELESTIAL POSITION ENTRY VELOCITY CULMINATION HOURLY RATE CLASS
RA (RA in Deg.) DEC Km/Sec Local Standard Time North-South
Anthelion (ANT) 07:12 (108) +22 30 01:00 1 – <1 II
alpha Hydrids (AHY) Jan 05 08:08 (122)   -07 44 02:00 <1 – <1 IV
Omicron Leonids (OLE) Jan 09 08:22 (125)   +11 39 02:00 <1 – <1 IV
C Velids (CVE) Dec 28 09:14 (138)   -54 39 03:00 <1 – 1 IV
January Leonids (JLE) Jan 02 09:34 (144) +26 52 03:00 <1 – <1 IV
December Leonis Minorids (DLM) Dec 17 11:14 (168) +27 63 05:00 1 – <1 II
December Sigma Virginids (DSV) Dec 21 14:08 (212) +03 66 08:00 <1 – <1 IV
Quadrantids (QUA) Jan 03 14:58 (224) +50 41 09:00 <1 – <1 I

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4 comments

  • Sharon West 4 years ago

    We saw a very bright flash yesterday just after sun rise… over the pacific at mazatlan Mexico. It was traveling north to South.

    Reply to Sharon
  • Victor Murrieta 4 years ago

    Hello, we were traveling south from Idaho to Vegas on 12/26/20 at about 5 pm, the sky’s were dark and a huge bright circle light as a gigantic locomotive train light the sky for miles on each side and above very clearly then as it went off there was a green glow. Two seconds later it happened again????

    Reply to Victor
  • JDG 4 years ago

    back in october I saw the longest meteor streak i over 45 years. Nearly horizon to horizon. It was a light green color, another first. I saw it start as i was driving near SETI in hat creek ca. It started northwest and finished south east…I kept saying to myself…its going to end any moment….but it just kept going and going. spectacular. Too bad cameras can’t do justice for the show that is outside.

    Reply to JDG

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