Showtime in the Skies The Family Life Guide to 2021 Meteor ShowersBy Jack TuszynskiSpread out a comfy blanket or pull up a reclining lounge chair and lay back because the sky is the limit for some faraway nighttime phenomena this year. Plan to spend some quality time relaxing with family and friends in the great outdoors while keeping your eyes on the heavens for these stunning celestial shows. Eta Aquarids Peak Dates: May 6-7Runs Annually: April 19 - May 28Moon Phase: Second QuarterBest Viewing: After MidnightThe Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower can produce about 30 meteors per hour in the northern hemisphere. It is produced by dust particles left behind by Halley’s Comet. The second quarter moon will block out the faintest meteors this year, but you should still be able to catch quite a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius. Delta Aquarids Peak Dates: July 28-29Runs Annually: July 12 - August 23Moon Phase: Nearly FullBest Viewing: Before DawnThe Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour. It is produced by debris left behind by the Marsden and Kracht Comets. The nearly full moon will affect visibility this year since its glare will block most of the faintest meteors, but you should still be able to see some of the brighter ones. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius but can appear anywhere in the sky. Perseids Peak Dates: August 12-13Runs Annually: July 17 - August 24Moon Phase: Waxing CrescentBest Viewing: After MidnightThe Perseids Meteor Shower will be one of the best to observe because it can produce up to 60 meteors per hour, many of which are very bright. It is produced by the Swift-Tuttle Comet, which was discovered in 1862. The waxing crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus but can appear anywhere in the sky. Draconids Peak Date: October 7Runs Annually: October 6-10Moon Phase: Nearly NewBest Viewing: Early EveningThe minor Draconids Meteor Shower is produced by dust grains left behind by the 21P Giacobini-Zinner Comet that was first discovered in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower in that the best viewing time is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other meteor showers. This year, the nearly new moon will leave dark skies for what should be a great show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco. Orionids Peak Dates: October 21-22Runs Annually: Oct. 2 - Nov. 7Moon Phase: FullBest Viewing: After MidnightThe Orionids Meteor Shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by Halley’s Comet. This year, the full moon will be a problem because its glare will block out all but the brightest meteors. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion but can appear anywhere in the sky. Leonids Peak Dates: November 17-18Runs Annually: November 6-30Moon Phase: FullBest Viewing: After Midnight The Leonids Meteor Shower can produce up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. It is produced by dust grains left behind by the Temple-Tuttle Comet, which was discovered in 1865. The nearly full moon will dominate the sky, blocking all but the brightest meteors, which will radiate from the constellation Leo. Geminids Peak Dates: December 13-14Runs Annually: December 7-17Moon Phase: Waxing GibbousBest Viewing: After MidnightThe Geminids Meteor Shower may produce up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour. It is produced by debris left behind by the 3200 Phaethon Asteroid, which was discovered in 1982. The waxing gibbous moon will block out most of the fainter meteors, but the Geminids are so numerous and bright that this could still be a good show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini. Ursids Peak Dates: December 21-22Runs Annually: December 17-25Moon Phase: FullBest Viewing: After MidnightThe Ursids Meteor Shower produces about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by the Tuttle Comet, which was first discovered in 1790. The nearly full moon will be a problem this year, blocking all but the brightest meteors. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor but can appear anywhere in the sky. In addition to the moon’s phase and manmade outdoor light pollution, weather conditions are another factor that will affect the success of your meteor shower viewing experience. Sources — AMS.org, EarthSky.org, NASA.gov