‘Geminids’, known for their bright colourful fireballs and considered one of the most reliable meteor showers visible from Earth, peaked on December 14 and will be active till December 24, as per reports. An asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon is responsible for the Geminid meteor shower. This differs from most meteor showers, which result from comets, not asteroids. Here’slooking at some of the most establishedmeteor showers known in recent years
Quadrantids
Alpha Centaurids
The Alpha Centaurids are a meteor shower in the constellation Centaurus, peaking in early February each year. The average magnitude is around 2.5, with a peak of about three meteors an hour. They have been observed since 1969, with a single possible recorded observation in 1938. The Alpha Centaurids meteor shower is typically best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, but glimpses can occur north of the equator.
Lyrids
The April Lyrids are a meteor shower lasting from about April 15 to April 29 each year. The radiant of the meteor shower is located near the constellations Lyra and Hercules, near the bright star Vega. The peak of the shower is typically around April 22-23 each year. The source of the meteor shower are particles of dust shed by the long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The Lyrids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the dark hours (after moonset and before dawn). The Lyrids are also one of the oldest known meteor showers. The Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years. The first recorded sighting of a Lyrid meteor shower goes back to 687 BC by the Chinese, as per Nasa.
Perseids
The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle that are usually visible from mid-July to late-August. The meteors are called the Perseids because they appear from the general direction of the constellation Perseus and in more modern times have a radiant bordering on Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour. They can be seen all across the sky; however, because of the shower’s radiant in the constellation of Perseus, the Perseids are primarily visible in the Northern Hemisphere.
Kappa Cygnids
Kappa Cygnids were an episodic meteor shower that took place from June to September, peaking around August 13, along with the larger Perseid meteor shower. The radiant of the shower emerged from the antihelion source in late June and moved upwards to Cygnus in July. In early August, the radiant is just west of the star Vega and elongated in a north-south direction. The shower then turns a corner and moves to the east in late August. The Kappa Cygnids are unusual in that they are absent in most years, but appear every seven years. The years 2020 and 2021 fit in that sequence. The shower is known for occasional bright fireballs with multiple flares.
Draconids
The October Draconids, in the past also unofficially known as the Giacobinids, are a Northern hemisphere meteor shower whose parent body is the periodic comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. They are named after the constellation Draco, where they come from. Draconids are one of the less active meteor showers and are only visible in the northern hemisphere. They are best viewed after sunset in an area with a clear dark sky.
Orionids
The Orionid meteor shower, often shortened to the Orionids, is one of two meteor showers associated with Halley’s Comet. The Orionids are so called as the point they appear to come from, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Orion, but they can be seen over a large area of the sky. The Orionids are an annual meteor shower which lasts approximately one week in October. They are considered to be one of the most beautiful showers of the year. Orionid meteors are known for their brightness and for their speed. These meteors are fast — they travel at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into the Earth’s atmosphere.