2016 Visibility Forecast
71
Visibility Score
113.7
Expected /hr
95.7%
Moon Illum.
very_poor
82.5°
Best Alt.
at 18:00
Radiant Altitude & Hourly Rate (Peak Night)
Description
Usually the strongest shower of the year. Good activity before midnight unlike most showers. Bright, intensely colored meteors. Medium-slow velocity means few persistent trains.
History
First observed in 1862. Unique among major showers for having an asteroidal parent body (3200 Phaethon).
Radiant Position
Shower Properties
IAU CodeGEM
ClassMajor Shower
ZHR150
Velocity35.0 km/s
Speed ClassMedium (30-50 km/s)
Pop. Index (r)2.6
Radiant RA112.0°
Radiant Dec+33.0°
Peak Sol. Lng.262.2°
Parent Body3200 Phaethon
Parent Typeasteroid
Best Hemisphereboth
2016 Dates
Activity StartDec 04
Activity EndDec 20
Peak DateDec 12
Moon PhaseWaning Gibbous
Moon Condition
very_poor
Best Time2am
Characteristics
Strongest Annual
Bright Meteors
Colorful
Early Evening