Meteor Shower Prospects for 2006

Once again it looks like the major meteor showers for 2006 won't be events that we would write home about. Unfortunately the Moon will interfere with most of them except the upcoming January Quadrantids, the Delta Aquarids and Capricornids of late July, and the October Orionids. And then, who knows what the weather will bring during the peak of those shooting star displays? All we can do is wait and hope Mother Nature is more kind to us stargazers this year.

And unless a new comet is suddenly discovered, there is only one very special astronomical event for us to observe in 2006. It's a transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun. On November 8, 2006, planet Mercury will pass between the Earth and the Sun. With specially filtered telescopes, astronomers will see the tiny disk of Mercury silhouetted against the solar disk. Here in New England the transit will begin just after 2:00 pm and will still be in progress as the sun sets around 4:30 pm. Folks farther west of our location will be able to observe it for a longer duration. From the US west coast on into the central Pacific, astronomers will be able to watch the entire five-hour transit.

For now, I look forward to the first major meteor shower of 2006, the Quadrantids. This display is always best after midnight, and this year a waxing crescent Moon sets very early in the evening. Unfortunately the predicted peak of activity is during daylight hours on the 3rd for us in New England. So you should try observing on the night of January 2-3 and 3-4.

If the weather cooperates you will see bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors as they blaze more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains in the atmosphere. You can really start observing any time, but the best views will be between midnight and dawn. Begin by looking toward the northeastern sky. As the morning progresses, begin scanning a little more westward as the point in the sky where the meteors appear to radiate from will rise and arc across the heavens.

Just pick a dark sky location away from annoying lights. The Quads do have a sharp peak, sometimes lasting only an hour or two. So remember to stay warm and alert. If you fall asleep out there you may not only miss some splendid shooting stars, but your loved ones may have to thaw you out afterwards! Enjoy the show (hopefully not snow!).

Clip and save the 2006 meteor shower prospects chart below and use it to plan your observing schedule for the coming year. Even despite the interfering moonlight for many of them, if the weather promises to be favorable for a specific display, by all means take advantage of clear skies to catch a glimpse of a meteor or two. You never know when you will see one again (remember the bad luck we had during 2005).

Good luck and stay warm.

                          Clip & Save
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*    Month         Shower           Date        Moon Phase          *
*                                                                   *
*    January       Quadrantids      2-3, 3-4    Waxing Crescent     *
*    April         Lyrids           21-22       Last Quarter        *
*    May           Eta Aquarids     5-6         First Quarter       *
*    June          Lyrids           14-16       Waxing Gibbous      *
*    July          Delta Aquarids   27-28       Waxing Crescent     *
*    July          Capricornids     28-29       Waxing Crescent     *
*    August        Perseids         12-13       Waning Gibbous      *
*    October       Orionids         20-21       New Moon            *
*    November      Leonids          16-17       Waning Crescent     *
*    December      Geminids         13-14       Waning Crescent     *
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Happy New Year and keep your eyes to the skies.