Back
Science

June Bootid Meteor Shower Reaches Annual Peak

Generated on: Last updated: 2 sources
View source

June Bootid Meteor Shower: Peak Viewing Window Opens

The June Bootid meteor shower is predicted to peak between June 20 and June 27, according to the American Meteor Society, with the Society for Popular Astronomy reporting a similar expectation through Saturday.

Characteristics

In most years, the June Bootids produce only a few meteors per hour. The shower has a history of unexpected outbursts, with documented rates varying significantly:

  • June 27, 1998: An outburst produced a Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) between 50 and 100 or more for over 12 hours. The American Meteor Society reports up to 100 meteors per hour were observed during this event.
  • June 23, 2004: An outburst resulted in an estimated 20-50 meteors per hour, with the Society for Popular Astronomy noting a ZHR of approximately 50.
  • June 2010: A forecasted outburst did not materialize, with fewer than 10 meteors per hour reported.

Cause

The June Bootids occur when Earth passes through debris from Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, which orbits the sun approximately every six years. Fragments entering the atmosphere burn up, creating meteors.

Viewing Tips

The radiant is located in the constellation Boötes. For Northern Hemisphere observers, it is high in the western and southwestern sky during evening. The Society for Popular Astronomy specifies the radiant lies in northwestern Boötes, 6 degrees northwest of the star Nekkar (beta Bootis).

Recommended viewing practices include:

  • Observing from a dark location away from city lights.
  • Looking at a broad area of sky, not directly at the radiant.
  • Allowing 20 to 30 minutes for eyes to adjust to darkness.
  • Lying flat on the ground for a wider field of view.

Observers in the Northern Hemisphere have a better viewing position for this shower.

Additional Upcoming Events

  • July 30-31: The Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers peak.
  • August 12-13: The Perseids meteor shower peaks.
  • August 12: A partial solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the U.S. (Alaska to North Carolina), most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwestern Africa. A total solar eclipse will occur over the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, and northern Spain.