The Observing Year
The recurring events of the observing year — meteor-shower peaks, equinoxes, and solstices — as a perennial guide. These recur annually; exact dates for a given year are prepared for a connected almanac.
January
- Quadrantids peakmeteor shower
The Quadrantids peak (night of 3–4 January), radiating from bootes.
March
- March Equinoxequinox
Day and night are nearly equal; the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving north.
April
- Lyrids peakmeteor shower
The Lyrids peak (night of 22–23 April), radiating from lyra.
May
- Eta Aquariids peakmeteor shower
The Eta Aquariids peak (night of 5–6 May), radiating from aquarius.
June
- June Solsticesolstice
The Sun reaches its northernmost point — the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, the shortest in the Southern.
August
- Perseids peakmeteor shower
The Perseids peak (night of 12–13 August), radiating from perseus.
September
- September Equinoxequinox
The Sun crosses the celestial equator moving south; day and night are again nearly equal.
October
- Orionids peakmeteor shower
The Orionids peak (night of 21–22 October), radiating from orion.
November
- Leonids peakmeteor shower
The Leonids peak (night of 17–18 November), radiating from leo.
- Taurids peakmeteor shower
The Taurids peak (early November), radiating from taurus.
December
- December Solsticesolstice
The Sun reaches its southernmost point — the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Geminids peakmeteor shower
The Geminids peak (night of 13–14 December), radiating from gemini.
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- IMOInternational Meteor Organization
Meteor shower activity, radiants, and peak forecasts.
- US Naval ObservatoryUnited States Naval Observatory
Precise time, almanac data, Sun/Moon rise-set, and phases.