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Today's Meteor Activity

The 'Today's Meteor Activity' graphic shows the averaged daily Meteor Activity provided by the Radio Meteor Observing Bulletin (RMOB). It's updated every hour. This graphic is free for linking to from your own website by using this link https://mmmonvhf.de/ms/ms.png

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UPCOMING METEOR SHOWERS: MAY 2022

η - Aquariids is the most prominent shower in May; its predicted maximum for 2022 will fall on May 06, 08h UT. This shower, associated with comet 1P/Halley (as the Orionids in October) , is characterized by a broad maximum, sometimes with a variable number of submaxima. IMO analyses based on data collected between 1984-2001 indicate that ZHRs are generally above 30 in the period May 3-10. The peak rates variability on a roughly 12-years timescale, associated with Jupiter's orbital period, has not been confirmed in a recent study. ZHR in 2019 and 2020 was significantly lower than predicted. Recent ZHRs at peak were ranging from 85 hr-1 (2008) to 45 hr-1 (2021). Model calculations indicate that ZHR could reach 50 hr-1 in 2022.
Please note that η - Aquariids radiant is above horizon (thus making the shower usable for MS) in Europe only (approximatively) in very late night and morning hours. While southern Europe stations will be able to see the radiant till early afternoon, in northern Europe skies the radiant culminates at reletively low elevation so an observer is able to see the radiant for much less time.

Meteoroids released from the minor planet 2006GY2 may rise activity on May 15 around 10h20m UT (λsol=54.28 degs). According to J. Vaubaillon, the stream should be dense, so worth to have a check.

Worth checking also the encounter with meteorioids of Comet 209P/LINEAR. According to J.Vaubaillon, while a dense part of the stream is located too far from the Earth, the 1903 and 1909 trails (with low density) will be encountered, on May 25, around 08h UT (λsol=63.8 degs).

Have a look also to τ - Herculids. This shower, associated with comet 73P / Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, is active from end May to early June. The comet was discovered in 1930 and a breakup was observed in 1995, producing fresh trails of dust. Shortly before the comet perihelion (on 2022 Aug 25th) the Earth may encounter dust of 1995 trail and others. The encounter with 1995 trail is predicted on May 31st (04h55m UT or 05h17m UT according to P.Jenniskens, 05h04m UT according to M.Sato). Trail density should be low but large amount of dust is expected due to breakup, so a storm may be possible. Encounters with other trails is expected between May 28 and June 1. For Example, encounter with 1892 and 1897 trails may occur between May 30, 16 UT and May 31, 10 UT.

Some daytime showers (o - Cetids, peaking May 20th being the most significant ) will also be active this month; in addition to increasing Sporadic Meteors background, they will provide good conditions for MS DXing.

For Radio Observers, the (Theoretical) UT peaks for upcoming showers in May 2022 are as follows:

η - Aquariids
Active: April 19 - May 28
Maximum: May 06, 08h UT (λsol= 45.5 degs)
ZHR: HIGH (50 hr-1)

η - Lyrids
Active: May 03 - May 14
Maximum: May 10 (λsol= 50.0 degs)
ZHR: Low (3 hr-1)

ε - Arietids (Daytime shower)
Active: April 24 - May 27
Maximum: May 09, 15h UT (λsol= 48.7 degs)
ZHR: Low

Arietids (May) (Daytime shower)
Active: May 04 - June 06
Maximum: May 16, 16h UT (λsol= 55.5 degs)
ZHR: Low

o - Cetids (Daytime shower)
Active: May 05 - June 02
Maximum: May 20, 15h UT (λsol= 59.3 degs)
ZHR: Medium

Source: IMO