Meteor Activity Outlook for October 25-31, 2025

During this era, the Moon reaches its first quarter section on Wednesday, October twenty ninth. On that date, the Moon might be situated 90 levels east of the Sun and might be set close to 22:00 native commonplace time (LST). As the week progresses from that date the waxing gibbous moon will start to intervene with meteor observing through the early morning hours.

The estimated whole hourly charges for night observers this weekend needs to be close to 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and a couple of as seen from tropical southern areas (25°S). For morning observers, the estimated whole hourly charges needs to be close to 16 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 12 as seen from tropical southern areas (25°S). Evening charges are diminished as a consequence of lunar interference.

The precise charges noticed may even rely on components corresponding to private gentle and movement notion, native climate circumstances, alertness, and expertise in watching meteor exercise. Note that the hourly charges listed under are estimates primarily based on observations from dark-sky websites away from city gentle sources. Observers viewing from city areas will see much less exercise, as solely the brighter meteors might be seen from such areas.

The radiant (the world of the sky from which meteors seem to originate) positions and charges listed under are actual for Saturday evening/Sunday morning, October 25/26. These positions don’t change significantly from each day, so the listed coordinates could also be used all through this complete interval. Most star atlases (accessible on-line, in bookstores, and at planetariums) embrace maps with celestial coordinate grids that may allow you to find these positions within the sky.

I’ve additionally included charts of the sky that show the radiant positions for night, midnight, and morning. The middle of every chart represents the sky instantly overhead on the corresponding hour. These charts are oriented for dealing with south however can be utilized for any route by rotating them accordingly. A planisphere or laptop planetarium program can also be helpful for displaying the sky at any time of evening on any date of the 12 months.

Activity from every radiant is finest seen when it’s positioned highest within the sky (fruits), both due north or south alongside the meridian, relying in your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight is not going to attain their highest level within the sky till daylight; due to this fact, it’s best to view them throughout the previous couple of hours earlier than daybreak.

It should be remembered that meteor exercise isn’t seen instantly on the radiant place. Rather, meteors shoot outward from the radiant, so it’s best to middle your discipline of view in order that the radiant lies close to the sting slightly than the middle. Viewing on this means lets you hint the trail of every meteor again to the radiant (if it belongs to a bathe) or in one other route whether it is sporadic. Meteor exercise will not be seen from radiants situated far under the horizon.

The positions under are listed in west-to-east order by proper ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are situated farther west and are due to this fact accessible earlier within the evening, whereas these listed farther down the record rise later.

 

These sources of meteoric exercise are anticipated to be lively this week

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The Andromedids (AND) are the annual particles encountered from the stays of comet 3D/Biela. These meteors shouldn’t be mistaken for the nice meteor storms of the 19^th century as these meteors are in a barely completely different orbit and irregularly encountered in early December. They are often known as the December phi Cassiopeiids (DPC). It is attention-grabbing that in November, this radiant strikes northward towards the world of the DPC’s however ends earlier than reaching the DPC radiant. The radiant presently is situated close to 01:12 (018) +20. This place lies in northeastern Pisces close to the faint star often known as chi Piscium. This a part of the sky is finest positioned close to 23:00 native commonplace time (LST), when the radiant lies highest above the horizon. Face towards the south close to this time to finest see these meteors. Current charges would almost certainly be lower than 1 per hour irrespective of your location. With an entry velocity of 20 km/sec., the common Andromedid meteor can be of sluggish velocity.

The omicron Eridanids (OER) was found by the Japanese video meteor community SonotaCo from video knowledge obtained throughout 2007-2008. These meteors are lively from October 23 via December 2^nd. Maximum exercise is ill-defined and will happen anytime from October 28 to November 17. The date listed within the desk represents the midpoint of the exercise curve and never the precise date of most exercise. The radiant is presently situated at 03:04 (46) +01, which is situated in northeastern Cetus, 3 levels south of the 2nd magnitude star often known as Menkar (alpha Ceti). This radiant is finest positioned close to 0100 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is situated highest within the southern sky. Face towards the south right now to finest see these meteors. Rates right now needs to be lower than 1 per hour irrespective of your location. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the common OER meteor can be of medium-slow velocity.

The Northern Taurids (NTA) needs to be lively from a large radiant situated at 03:04 (046) +20. This space of the sky lies in jap Aries, 1 diploma west of the 4th-magnitude star Botein (delta Arietis). To finest see these meteors, observers ought to face southward close to 01:00 LST. To differentiate between the Northern and Southern Taurids, face towards these radiants, as they lie shut collectively within the sky. Maximum exercise will not be anticipated till November ninth, so charges right now needs to be close to 1 per hour, no matter location. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec, the common NTA meteor can be of medium-slow velocity.

The extensive radiant for the Southern Taurids (STA) is centered close to 03:13 (048) +14. This space of the sky lies in jap Aries, about 3 levels northwest of the 4th-magnitude star 5 Tauri. This radiant is finest positioned close to 01:00 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is highest within the southern sky. Rates right now needs to be close to 2 per hour, no matter location. With an entry velocity of 31 km/sec, the common STA meteor would even be of medium-slow velocity. Many fireballs from this supply have already been reported this month, so monitoring this bathe could also be rewarding whereas the Moon will not be interfering. These meteors are also referred to as the October Arietids throughout October.

The Orionids (ORI) are lively from October 2 via November 12, with most exercise occurring on October twenty third. The radiant is presently situated at 06:36 (099) +16, which locations it in western Gemini, 1 diploma west of the 2nd-magnitude star Alhena (gamma Geminiorum). This space of the sky is finest positioned for observing over the past darkish hour earlier than daybreak, when it lies highest within the southern sky. Current charges are anticipated to be close to 5 per hour this weekend, no matter location. Rates are anticipated fall slowly because the week progresses. With an entry velocity of 66 km/sec, the common ORI meteor can be of swift velocity.

The Epsilon Geminids (EGE) are lively from October 1st via November 4th, with most exercise occurring on October sixteenth. The radiant is presently situated at 07:12 (108) +27, mendacity in central Gemini, 3 levels south of the 4th-magnitude star tau Geminorum. To finest see these meteors, face south throughout the previous couple of darkish hours earlier than daybreak. Rates right now needs to be lower than 1 per hour, no matter location. With an entry velocity of 68 km/sec, the common EGE meteor can be of swift velocity.

The rho Puppids (RPU) had been found by Željko Andreić  and the Croatian Meteor Network workforce primarily based on finding out SonotaCo and CMN observations (SonotaCo 2007-2011, CMN 2007-2010). These meteors are lively from October 28 via November 22 with most exercise occurring on November eighth. The radiant is presently situated at 07:20 (110) -25. This space of the sky lies in southeastern Canis Major, 2 levels northeast of the 2nd magnitude star often known as Wezen (delta Canis Majoris). To finest see these meteors face towards the south over the past darkish hour previous to daybreak. Rates right now needs to be lower than 1 per hour irrespective of your location. With an entry velocity of 58 km/sec., the common RPU meteor can be of medium-swift velocity.

The kappa Ursae Majorids (KUM) had been found by cameras of the SonotaCo community in Japan throughout an outburst of exercise on November 5, 2009. This radiant is lively from October 28-November 17, with most exercise occurring on the sixth. The radiant is presently situated at 08:52 (133) +49. This place lies in southwestern Ursa Majoris, 1 diploma northwest of the three^rd magnitude star often known as Talitha (iota Ursae Majoris). Rates are anticipated to be lower than 1 irrespective of your location. These meteors are finest seen over the past hour earlier than daybreak when the radiant lies highest above the northern horizon in a darkish sky. With an entry velocity of 66 km/sec., the common Kappa Ursae Majorid meteor can be of swift velocity. Due to the excessive northern location of this radiant, these meteors are not nicely seen from the southern hemisphere.

The Leonids (LEO) are lively from October 27 to December 7 with most exercise occurring on November 17^th. The radiant is presently situated at 09:20 (140) +30. This place lies in northeastern Cancer, 5 levels south of the Third magnitude star often known as alpha Lyncis. The Leonid radiant is finest positioned within the jap sky over the past hour earlier than morning twilight when the radiant lies highest in a darkish sky. Leonids could also be seen from the southern hemisphere, however the viewing circumstances should not fairly as favorable as these north of the equator. Current charges are anticipated to be lower than 1 per hour irrespective of your location. With an entry velocity of 69 km/sec., most exercise from this radiant can be of swift pace with quite a few persistent trains on the brighter meteors.

The Southern lambda Draconids (SLD) had been found by Željko Andreić and the Croatian Meteor Network workforce primarily based on finding out SonotaCo and CMN observations (SonotaCo 2007-2011, CMN 2007-2010). These meteors are lively from October 29-November 8 with most exercise occurring on November 4^th. The radiant is presently situated at: 09:44 (146) +73. This space of the sky is presently situated in northern Ursa Major close to the faint star often known as 27 Ursae Majoris. This space of the sky is finest positioned within the sky over the past hour earlier than daybreak, when it lies highest above the northern horizon in a darkish sky. Current charges needs to be lower than 1 per hour irrespective of your location. With an entry velocity of 50km/sec., most exercise from this radiant can be of medium pace. Due to the excessive northern location, these meteors are poorly seen from the southern hemisphere.

The Lambda Ursa Majorids (LUM) had been found by Željko Andreić and the Croatian Meteor Network workforce, primarily based on SonotaCo and CMN observations (SonotaCo 2007–2011, CMN 2007–2010). These meteors are lively from October 18 via November 7, with most exercise on October twenty eighth. The present location of the LUM radiant lies close to 10:24 (156) +50, in southern Ursa Major, 1 diploma south of the Third-magnitude star mu Ursae Majoris. This space of the sky is finest noticed over the past hour earlier than daybreak, when it lies highest above the northeastern horizon in a darkish sky. Current charges needs to be lower than 1 per hour, no matter location. Due to the excessive northern location of this radiant, these meteors are troublesome to see from the southern hemisphere. With an entry velocity of 61 km/sec, most exercise from this radiant can be of medium-fast pace.

The Leonis Minorids (LMI) are lively from October sixteenth to November sixth, with most exercise occurring on October twenty second. The radiant is presently situated at 10:56 (164) +36, which locations it in northeastern Leo Minor, 1 diploma north of the 4th-magnitude star 46 Leonis Minoris. These meteors are finest seen by dealing with east over the past couple of hours earlier than daybreak. This bathe favors observers within the northern hemisphere, the place the radiant rises larger into the northeastern sky earlier than morning twilight. Current charges needs to be close to 1 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and lower than 1 per hour as seen from south of the equator. At 61 km/sec, the common Leonis Minorid is medium-fast. From private expertise, this minor bathe produces a excessive proportion of shiny meteors.

Sporadic meteors are these that can not be related to any recognized meteor bathe. All meteor showers evolve and disperse over time till they’re now not recognizable. Away from the peaks of main annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the majority of the exercise seen every evening.

As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45°N), one would count on to see roughly 8 sporadic meteors per hour over the past hour earlier than daybreak, from rural observing websites. Evening charges can be close to 2 per hour. From tropical southern latitudes (25°S), morning charges can be round 6 per hour and 1 per hour through the night. Locations between these two extremes would expertise exercise between these figures. Evening charges are diminished as a consequence of moonlight.

The record under supplies tabular info on the lively showers which are inside attain of the visible observer to discern. Hourly charges are sometimes lower than one, so these sources are hardly ever listed as visible targets in most meteor bathe catalogs. If you, like me, want to affiliate as many meteors as potential with recognized sources, you’ll recognize these listings.

Before claiming to have noticed meteors from these Class IV showers, you must decide whether or not they really belong to them and should not likelihood alignments of sporadic meteors. Note parameters corresponding to length, size, radiant distance, and elevation of every meteor to assist compute the likelihood of bathe affiliation.

It needs to be remembered that sluggish meteors can seem in quick showers, however quick meteors can’t be produced by sluggish showers. Slower showers are these with velocities lower than 35 km/sec. Slow meteors can seem from quick showers once they happen near the radiant or low within the sky.

The desk situated on web page 22 of the IMO’s 2025 Meteor Shower Calendar is a useful software for figuring out meteors. If you file the size and length of every meteor, you need to use this chart to verify the likelihood of the meteor belonging to a bathe of recognized velocity. If the angular velocity matches the determine within the desk, your meteor most likely belongs to that bathe.

Recognizing meteors from obscure showers will not be for starting meteor observers—it takes many hours of apply to develop an intuition for what you’re seeing. It is our hope that you’ll transfer past merely watching meteors as a celestial fireworks show and assist broaden our data of those heavenly guests by classifying every meteor you observe.

Rates and positions within the desk are actual for Saturday evening/Sunday morning October 18/19.

SHOWER	DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY	CELESTIAL POSITION	ENTRY VELOCITY	CULMINATION	HOURLY RATE	CLASS
		RA (RA in Deg.) DEC	Km/Sec	Local Daylight-Saving Time	North-South
Andromedids (AND)	Nov 06	01:12 (018) +20	20	00:00	<1 – <1	IV
omicron Eridanids (OER)	Nov 05	03:04 (046) +01	30	02:00	<1 – <1	IV
Northern Taurids (NTA)	Nov 09	03:04 (046) +20	30	02:00	1 –  1	II
Southern Taurids (STA)	Nov 05	03:13 (048) +14	31	02:00	2 –  2	II
Orionids (ORI)	Oct 23	06:36 (099) +16	66	05:00	5  – 4	I
epsilon Geminids (EGE)	Oct 16	07:12 (108) +27	68	06:00	<1 – <1	IV
rho Puppids (RPU)	Nov 08	07:20 (110) -25	58	06:00	<1 – <1	IV
kappa Ursae Majorids (KUM)	Nov 05	08:52 (133) +49	66	07:00	<1 – <1	IV
Leonids (LEO)	Nov 17	09:20 (140) +30	69	08:00	<1 – <1	I
Southern lambda Draconids (SLD)	Nov 03	09:44 (146) +73	50	09:00	<1 – <1	IV
Lambda Ursa Majorids (LUM)	Oct 28	10:24 (156) +50	61	10:00	<1 – <1	IV
Leonis Minorids (LMI)	Oct 22	10:56 (164) +36	61	11:00	1 –  <1	II

You can maintain monitor of the exercise of those meteor showers in addition to these past the bounds of visible observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal. You can transfer the sky globe to see completely different areas of the sky. Colored dots point out bathe meteors whereas white dots point out sporadic (random) exercise. The massive orange disk signifies the place of the solar so little exercise might be seen in that space of the sky.

Class Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their depth:

• Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates usually ten or higher.
• Class II: dependable minor showers with ZHR’s usually two to 10.
• Class III: showers that don’t present annual exercise. These showers are hardly ever lively but have the potential to provide a significant show once in a while.
• Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s hardly ever exceeding two. The examine of those showers is finest left to skilled observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to find out bathe affiliation. These weak showers are additionally good targets for video and photographic work. Observers with much less expertise are urged to restrict their bathe associations to showers with a score of I to III.
  

Tags: Epsilon Geminids Kappa Ursae Majorids Lambda Ursae Majorids Leonids Leonis Minorids Meteors Northern Taurids October Meteor Activity October Meteor Showers Omicron Eridanids Orionids rho Puppids Southern lambda Draconids Southern Taurids