Meteor Showers

by SPACE.com Staff

Date: 01 January 2009 Time: 02:00 AM ET

Major Meteor Showers visible during the night where the expected Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR) will be 10 or more, or where the rate may be variable.

**2009 Meteor Showers**
Meteor Shower	Best Date	Constellation to look towards	ZHR	Originates From

Quadrantids	January 3	Bootes	120	not known
Lyrids	April 22	Lyra	20	Comet Thatcher
Pi-Puppids	April 23	Puppis	variable	not known
Eta-Aquarid	May 6	Aquarius	60	Halley's Comet
June Bootid	June 27	Bootes	variable	not known
South.Delta-Aquarid	July 29	Aquarius	20	not known
Perseid	August 12	Perseus	90	Comet Swift-Tuttle
Aurigid	September 1	Auriga	variable	not known
Draconid	October 8	Draco	variable	not known
Orionid	October 21	Orion	20	Halley's Comet
S. Taurid	November 5	Taurus	10	not known
N. Taurid	November 12	Taurus	15	not known
Leonid	November 17	Leo	15	Comet Temple-Tuttle
Alpha-Monocerotid	November 21	Monoceros	variable	not known
Dec Phoenicid	December 6	Phoenix	variable	not known
Puppid/Velid	December 6	Puppis	10	not known
Geminid	December 14	Gemini	120	Asteroid 3200 Phaethon
Ursid	December 22	Ursa Minor	10	not known

Sources: RASC - Observer's Handbook 2009 and International Meteor Organization