The Orionids typically produce about 20 to 25 meteors per hour during their peak and are known to be very bright—most Orionids are fireball meteors. Like the Eta Aquariids, the Orionids are also debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
The Orionids are seen shining in the constellation Orion, rising around 11pm local time and highest in the sky just before dawn.
The new moon occurs on the night of October 21-22, and in the surrounding week the moon will be before midnight, so you will have perfect viewing conditions to see this meteor shower.
Leonids (November-December)
The Leonids are active from about November 3 to December 2. They have a sharp peak, producing the most meteors in one night from November 16 to November 17, according to the American Meteor Society. However, some organizations predict that this shower will peak from November 17 to November 18. During the peak of the Leonids, you can expect to see about 15 meteors per hour under a dark sky.
Although the Leonids produce fewer meteors than most other large meteor showers, they are known for producing fast, bright, and fireball meteors.
The Leonids peak just before the new moon—on the morning of November 18, the moon will be 6 percent brighter and in the eastern US it won’t rise until 5 a.m. on November 17, so you’ll have plenty of time to see it. this meteor shower under perfect viewing conditions.
The brightest of the Leonids is the constellation Leo, which rises at midnight local time and is highest in the sky at dawn.
Geminids (December)
The Geminids are active from about December 4 to December 17, rising overnight from December 13 to December 14. They have a sharp peak, so the night of the 13th is the best time to view the sky.
The Geminids are the most spectacular meteor shower of the year: In addition to boasting up to 120 or even 150 meteors per hour during its peak, this meteor shower is also the brightest and most colorful of the year.
Geminids are bright, slow-moving meteors that often have yellow tones, but can be a range of other colors, including green, blue, white, red, or orange. And unlike most meteors, which are caused by comet debris, Geminids are asteroid remnants.
On the night when the top of the Geminids, its brightness, the constellation Gemini, will be above the horizon all night and will reach its highest point around 2 am local time, so the meteors will be visible almost all night.
That same night, the moon will be about 32 percent illuminated and will rise around 1:30 a.m. in the eastern US, so if you’re watching this shower just after midnight, the moonlight won’t interfere with your view.
The Ursids (December)
The Ursids are active from about December 17 to December 26, peaking in the early hours of December 22. This meteor shower is less active than others, usually producing about 10 meteors per hour; however, viewing conditions will be good for viewing the sky. The moon will be around 6 pm in the eastern US on the 21st, so no moonlight will interfere with this meteor shower.
Even though the Ursids usually produce the most meteors just before dawn, when their brightest star, the Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor), is highest in the sky, you’ll be able to see meteors all night during the peak of this shower. In the northern regions the Ursids light is above the horizon all night.