June’s unpredictable Bootid meteor shower is upon us!
Here’s everything you need to know about the annual shower ahead of its June 27 peak.
Each June, Earth encounters a stream of particles shed by the 5-kilometer-wide (3.1-mile-wide) comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, heralding the onset of the Bootid meteor shower.
When to look for the Bootid meteor shower The Bootid meteor shower is active from June 22 to July 2 and is expected to reach peak activity around June 27, according to the International Meteor Organization.
The American Meteor Society describes the June Bootids as a ‘Class III’ variable meteor shower, which are capable of producing ‘strong activity’ on rare occasions, but equally can only produce one visible meteor per night.
Before the annual Bootid meteor shower peaks on June 27, here is all the information you need to know about this unpredictable shower.
NASA estimates that every day, about 48.5 tons (44,000 kilograms) of ancient debris from the formation of our solar system collide with the atmosphere of our planet. These particles—also known as meteors—strike our atmosphere and quickly burn up, leaving behind beautiful trails that are easily visible to the unaided eye.
During periods of increased activity known as “meteor showers,” our planet frequently passes through the debris trails left by roving comets as it orbits the sun. Every June, the 5-kilometer (3.11-mile) wide comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke sends a stream of particles toward Earth, signaling the start of the Bootid meteor shower.
When to search for the meteor shower on Bootid.
The International Meteor Organization says the Bootid meteor shower will peak around June 27 and be active from June 22 to July 2. During this time, comet-related shooting stars can be seen originating from a radiant, which is a point of origin in the constellation Bootes, where the shower was officially named.
According to stargazing website in-the-sky . org, the radiant will be visible above the horizon on June 27 for the entire night, but it will be at its highest before the sun sets, making the post-dusk hours the ideal time to search the sky for elusive meteors. Around this period, Earth’s natural satellite will also be approaching its new moon phase, offering a pleasant, dark sky to observe the transient interplanetary visitors.
Don’t expect too much.
Stargazers who are ardent should not expect to see the flurry of shooting stars that is typically seen during major showers when they visit the Bootids. The June Bootids are classified as a “Class III” variable meteor shower by the American Meteor Society. This shower type can occasionally produce “strong activity,” but it can also only produce one visible meteor per night. For comparison, at their height, powerful showers like the Perseids or Geminids can produce more than 100 meteors per hour.
It is best to look about 40 degrees away from the shower’s radiant in the direction of the local zenith, or the point directly above your head, in order to catch the longest trails. Keep in mind that the distance between your clenched fist and the night sky at arm’s length equals about 10 degrees. To find your perfect, if hopeful, meteor-hunting patch of sky, stack four fists above the constellation Bootes, which is easily located using a smartphone stargazing app.
