SUNSET: 
The Best Meteor Showers in 2024
The beloved Perseid meteor shower of the August vacation season will evade the moonlight in 2024, at least during the best early morning meteor-watching hours. The Lyrids and Geminids aren't so lucky.
Catch the Geminid Meteor Shower; Plus, Watch RW Cephei Fade
The luminous Geminid meteor shower returns. We also meet a binocular-bright star that may be experiencing Betelgeuse-like convulsions.
Precious Hours with the Geminids
At first glance, the annual Geminid meteor shower appears to be on a collision course with a bright Moon. But a closer look reveals a happy window of dark skies.
Fine Show Expected from the Perseid Meteor Shower
With no interference from the Moon, this year's Perseid meteor shower should be excellent. If you couldn't catch the show last night, try looking up tonight!
Great Show Expected for the Geminids
Don’t miss the best meteor shower of the year. Catch the Geminid meteors as they peak on the moonless night of December 13–14.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Perseids: Big Eclipse's Opening Act
The upcoming total solar eclipse is understandably getting a lot of attention, but don't overlook the trusty Perseids. They'll be getting things warmed up Saturday night.
Ultimate Guide to Meteor Showers in 2017
Everyone enjoys the brief and sometimes dazzling streaks of light from meteors, sometimes called "shooting stars." Sky & Telescope predicts that the two best meteor showers in 2017 will be the Quadrantids in early January and the Geminids in mid-December.
Astrophotography: Tips & Techniques
How to Photograph a Meteor Shower: Capturing the Perseids
Learn how to photograph a meteor shower with these step-by-step instructions, as well as advice for the advanced imager.
What is a meteor shower?
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a stream of meteoric material. The brief streaks of luminescence we call meteors are caused by meteoroids burning up as they pass through the atmosphere.
Will meteor showers be enchanced if you fly 3,000 feet above the ground in an airplane?
I recently got my pilot license. Will meteor showers be enhanced at all for my girlfriend and me in a low-winged Tomahawk airplane, flying 3,000 feet above the ground?There are several tradeoffs to consider. True, you’ll be 1 kilometer closer to the meteors overhead. But most of them flash into…
How much space debris falls into Earth's atmosphere every year?
Has anyone ever calculated the combined tonnage of meteroids and space debris falling into our atmosphere yearly? Yes, but it's hard because different methods are needed for different particle sizes. Ground radar and exposed spacecraft surfaces are best for detecting the very smallest bits, whereas photographic surveys have been used…
