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Arietids Meteor Shower Peaks June 5
June 4, 2023 at 04:07 PM EDT
By Weatherbug Meteorologist John Benedict
The Arietids Meteor Shower, a lesser known and more recently discovered meteor shower, is set to peak the morning of June 5. This meteor shower is generally active between May 29 and June 17. The Arietids mainly occur after the sun has risen and is known as a “daytime” meteor shower, with only some meteors visible in the hour preceding dawn.
The Arietids radiant point, the point in the sky where meteors appear to originate from, is in the constellation Aries, which will be in the eastern sky. Aires rises just before astronomical twilight which is the period when the center of the sun is 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon. This is when fainter stars and other sky objects begin to appear more easily to the naked eye and is generally 90 minutes after sunset and before dawn.
The meteors this year will not only have to compete with the rising sun, but a wanning gibbous as the full moon occurred on Friday. The Arietids average around 60 meteors per hour, so some will be visible to viewers in the dark hour before dawn. Locations with a good view of the eastern horizon will have the best chance to view the show as meteors will spray outwards from the rising constellation Aires.
The Arietids were first uncovered in June 1947 at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire England. Scientists made the discovery with radar before observing them. The source of the Arietids is still up for debate, but the likely sources would either be from a comet known as 96P/Machholz or an asteroid known as 1566 Icarus. These meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere with a velocity of 39 km/s or 87,241 mph! The Arietids generally peak on June 7 or 8, but this year they are predicted to peak on June 5.
A few tips for optimal viewing:
The Arietids radiant point, the point in the sky where meteors appear to originate from, is in the constellation Aries, which will be in the eastern sky. Aires rises just before astronomical twilight which is the period when the center of the sun is 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon. This is when fainter stars and other sky objects begin to appear more easily to the naked eye and is generally 90 minutes after sunset and before dawn.
The meteors this year will not only have to compete with the rising sun, but a wanning gibbous as the full moon occurred on Friday. The Arietids average around 60 meteors per hour, so some will be visible to viewers in the dark hour before dawn. Locations with a good view of the eastern horizon will have the best chance to view the show as meteors will spray outwards from the rising constellation Aires.
The Arietids were first uncovered in June 1947 at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire England. Scientists made the discovery with radar before observing them. The source of the Arietids is still up for debate, but the likely sources would either be from a comet known as 96P/Machholz or an asteroid known as 1566 Icarus. These meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere with a velocity of 39 km/s or 87,241 mph! The Arietids generally peak on June 7 or 8, but this year they are predicted to peak on June 5.
A few tips for optimal viewing:
- Remember that for optimal viewing, you should get as far away from city lights as possible, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for at least a half hour.
- Just use your naked eyes - telescopes and binoculars will not help you see them better and will only limit your field of view.
- Prepare for cool temperatures by wearing layers and taking a blanket.