How are meteor showers named?
Meteor showers are named for the constellation they seem to originate from (this is called their radiant, the point in the sky from which the shower seems to be coming from). Meteor showers have nothing to do with constellations or stars except for their names. For example, the Orionids meteor shower is named for the constellation Orion because the meteor shower seems to originate in the constellation Orion (although the meteors in this meteor shower are actually debris from Halley’s comet and have nothing to do with the constellation Orion). Meteor Shower Approximate Dates Date of Maximum Approximate Hourly Rate of Meteors Velocity km/sec Parent Comet Quadrantids (visible by Boötes) Dec. 8-Jan. 7 Jan. 3 40-60 42 unknown Lyrids Apr. 16-25 Apr. 22 10-15 48 Thatcher 18611 Eta Aquarids April 21-May 12 May 5-6 20-50 66 Halley (periodic) Delta Aquarids July 14-Aug.18 July 28-29 20 41 unknown Perseids July 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 12 50-75 60 Swift-Tuttle (periodic) Orionids Oct. 15-29 Oct. 21-22 20-
