Related: See stunning pictures of the Geminid meteor shower of 2021 The Geminids happen in December and spray up to 40 meteors per hour out of the Gemini constellation at its peak. Meteor showers are mostly from comets, so having an asteroid as parents make the Quadrantids and Geminids different from other meteor showers. Geminids: Like the Quadrantids, the Geminid meteor shower also came from dust particles of an asteroid, this time a near-earth asteroid called 3200 Phaeton. Related: The most amazing Quadrantid meteor shower photos The debris enters Earth's atmosphere in early January and offers astronomers and other observers a brief show. Quadrantids: The Quadrantid meteor shower comes from the debris of an asteroid called 2003 EH1, which some astronomers think was part of a comet that broke apart centuries ago. Related: Orionid meteor shower thrills skywatchers! See the photos The Orionid shower happens every October and can last for a week, treating patient observers to a show of 50 to 70 shooting stars per hour at its peak. Orionids: The Orionid meteor shower produces meteors from Halley's comet, which orbits the sun every 75 to 76 years. Related: Amazing photos of the 2021 Perseid meteor shower It is not as active as the Leonids, but it is the most widely watched meteor shower of the year, peaking on Aug. Earth passes through the comet's orbit during the month of August every year. Perseids: Another shower that is worth keeping awake for is the Perseid meteor shower, which is associated with the Comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the sun. Related: The most amazing Leonid meteor shower photos The Leonids occur every November, but the shower's most beautiful display happens at intervals of about 33 years, with the last one lighting Earth's sky in 2002 it is not expected to be repeated until 2028. In fact, the term "meteor shower" was coined after astronomers observed one of the Leonids' most impressive displays in 1833.
Leonids: The brightest and most impressive is the Leonid meteor shower, which can produce a meteor storm that showers the sky with thousands of meteors per minute at its peak. To find out what meteor showers are coming your way and when check out our comprehensive meteor shower viewing guide. There are several periodic meteor showers that astronomers and amateur observers wait for every year. For example, the Orionids appear to originate from the mighty Orion constellation, while Perseid meteors seem to be coming from the Perseus constellation. Meteor showers are named after the constellations from where the shower appears to be coming from. These showers appear to come from one part of the sky - known as the radiant - and streak out in all directions. But at particular times of the year, dozens, even hundreds of meteors can light up the sky in a stunning meteor shower.
Meteors are often spotted making a solitary fall to Earth. (Image credit: Kevin Key / Slworking) (opens in new tab)
Geminid meteor shower captured above a railroad water tower at Dos Cabezas Siding in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, U.S.
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