Staring at the Heavens - Meteor Showers

Although there is action in April and May, starting in August we have some of the most spectacular meteor events that run through the winter months. They are usually named for nearest constellation or bright star to where they happen. They happen every year at approximately the same time as the earth passes through areas of space debris left by other heavenly bodies such as comets.

I suppose we should go over some basic definitions before we go any further. Meteors are any piece of space debris that lights up in a blazing streak as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. Before that they are, well, just space debris. They are called meteorites only after they hit the ground. This is usually extremely rare. There is no definite number really, but if you have more than one happening in the same span of time it is usually called a meteorite shower.

The best time for viewing meteorite showers is usually very early morning after midnight. (A reason I get to rarely see them.) It’s kind of a “been there, done that so I don’t feel like getting up that early” thing for me. They always seem to peak at three in the morning. This is because we are facing straight forward in our space orbit at that time. Many will take place in the northern skies, but there are some in the south.

It is important to find a place away from city lights. Light pollution makes it much harder to see them. The phases of the Moon will also impact you viewing ability. A new moon or a waxing or waning crescent will give the best viewing. My friend Randy and I had a favorite place by the White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix where we would set up lawn chairs, crack open a Pepsi, and count streaks. They sometimes even come in different colors. The best ones I remember where green.

Weather also plays a factor in clear viewing. Winter can often have crisp, clear nights for viewing. However, those of us on the West Coast may be in for a struggle this winter if the rain predictions hold up. If you have never stayed up and counted meteors, you ought to try it. Just get warm and comfortable in a safe place. It’s also much more fun to bring friends. Most meteor sightings wins!

Here is a list of 2026-27 Upcoming Meteor Showers

from https://www.almanac.com/content/meteor-shower-calendar

 

Perseids  August 12–13, 2026 (peak)

The Perseids are one of the best meteor showers to observe, with over 50 meteors per hour at their peak! Plus, we can all enjoy seasonable August nights. In 2026, the Perseids—active from July 17 to August 23, with a maximum August 12–13—will peak during the New Moon, making for optimal viewing conditions. Be sure to mark your calendar, get out there, and check out this amazing meteor shower.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: Northeast

Date of Maximum: August 12–13, 2026                    Number Per Hour: 50

Associated Comet: Swift-Tuttle                                 Moon Phase: New Moon

 

Draconids  October 9, 2026 (peak)

The Draconids aren’t one of the bigger shows of the year, but they do mark the start of a busy season of meteor showers. After the Draconids, a shower happens every 1 to 2 weeks until late December.In 2026, the shower will peak when the Moon is only about 1 percent full, so moonlight will not present any interference. The best viewing will be in the evening from a dark location far away from city lights.

Best Viewing: Late Evening                                      Point of Origin: Northwest

Date of Maximum: October 9, 2026                          Number Per Hour: 6

Associated Comet: Giacobini-Zinner                        Moon Phase: Waning Crescent

 

Orionids  October 21–22, 2026 (peak)

The Orionids are named after one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky, Orion, from which these meteors appear to radiate. Often featuring some of the brightest and fastest streaking stars, the Orionids appear in October and peak this year in the hours before dawn on October 22.

In 2026, the Orionids will be difficult to view. The waxing gibbous Moon will obscure all but the brightest meteors.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: South

Date of Maximum: October 21–22, 2026                  Number Per Hour: 15

Associated Comet: Halley                                          Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous

 

Northern Taurids  November 9, 2026 (peak)

The Northern Taurid meteor shower is a smaller but steady annual shower that peaks in early to mid-November. It usually produces only a few meteors per hour, but what makes it special is that the meteors are often bright fireballs that streak dramatically across the sky. In 2026, the Northern Taurids will be visible during the New Moon, making for perfect viewing conditions.

Best Viewing: Late Evening                                      Point of Origin: South

Date of Maximum: November 9, 2026                      Number Per Hour: 3

Associated Comet: Encke                                           Moon Phase: New Moon

 

Leonids  November 17–18, 2026 (peak)

The Leonid shower is typically an average event with 10 to 15 shooting stars per hour, but on rare occasions, this shower has been known to produce “meteor storms,” which result in thousands of meteors streaking across the sky. (We do not expect meteor storms this year.) In 2026, the Moon will be a waxing gibbous, obscuring many of the meteors.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: South

Date of Maximum: November 17–18, 2026              Number Per Hour: 10

Associated Comet: Tempel-Tuttle                             Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous

 

Andromedids  November 25–27, 2026 (peak)

The Andromedid meteor shower is a much lesser-known shower that peaks in late November, though it’s usually very weak today—just a few meteors per hour. Long ago, in the 1800s, it produced spectacular storms with hundreds of meteors, but those days are gone. In 2026, the Andromedids peak just a day after the Full Moon, making it nearly impossible to view the meteors.

Best Viewing: Late Evening                                      Point of Origin: South

Date of Maximum: November 25–27, 2026              Number Per Hour: 5

Associated Comet: Biela                                            Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous

 

Geminids  December 13–14, 2026 (peak)

The Geminids are the biggest meteor shower of the year, and the shooting stars streak across the sky the entire night, with 75 meteors per hour at their peak. Plus, it gets dark early, so you don’t have to stay up until the early hours to see the king of the meteor showers. In 2026, the Geminids will happen during a waxing crescent Moon, making for nearly optimal viewing conditions. So grab a blanket and a mug of cocoa and look up!

Best Viewing: All Night                                             Point of Origin: Northeast

Date of Maximum: December 13–14, 2026               Number Per Hour: 75

Associated Comet: —                                                 Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent

 

Ursids  December 22, 2026 (peak)

The Ursid meteor shower peaks each year around the winter solstice in late December, right before Christmas. It’s a smaller shower, producing only a few meteors per hour, but it sometimes surprises observers with short bursts of higher activity. Though it’s not the biggest show, the Ursids are a quiet holiday sky treat for patient stargazers. In 2026, the Ursids will happen during a waxing gibbous Moon (6 percent full), making for very difficult viewing conditions.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: North

Date of Maximum: December 22, 2026                     Number Per Hour: 5

Associated Comet: Tuttle                                           Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous

 

Quadrantids   January 4, 2027 (peak)

In the right conditions, the Quadrantids are one of the year’s best meteor showers, as they feature an average of 25 meteors per hour at their peak. The Quadrantids’ peak is relatively short, lasting from about midnight to dawn, but the volume of meteors makes the experience worthwhile.

In 2027, the Moon will be a waning crescent at the Quadrantids’ peak, giving us optimal viewing conditions. For your best chance of seeing meteors on the 4th of January just before dawn, see your Moonrise and Moonset times.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: North

Date of Maximum: January 4, 2027                           Number Per Hour: 25

Associated Comet: —                                                 Moon Phase: Waning Crescent

 

Lyrids April 22, 2027 (peak)

The Lyrids peak on the night of April 21–22, 2027, when you can expect to see an average of 10 meteors per hour in dark, clear skies. Rarely, the Lyrids produce surges of up to 100 meteors per hour. This meteor shower is visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but it is much more active in the Northern Hemisphere, where the meteors’ radiant is high in the sky. In 2027, the Moon will be a waning gibbous during the Lyrids’ peak, washing out all but the brightest meteors.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: South

Date of Maximum: April 22, 2027                             Number Per Hour: 10

Associated Comet: Thatcher                                      Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous           

 

Eta Aquarids  May 4, 2027 (peak)

The debris from Halley’s Comet creates the Eta Aquarids! This meteor shower is most spectacular in the Southern Hemisphere, where the meteor’s radiant is higher in the sky. Eta Aquarids are often seen closer to the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2027, the Eta Aquarids will happen when there is a waning crescent (4 percent full). This will make for optimal viewing conditions.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: Southeast

Date of Maximum: May 4, 2027                                Number Per Hour: 10

Associated Comet: Halley                                          Moon Phase: Waning Crescent

Delta Aquarids (peak)   July 30, 2027

The Delta Aquarids get their name from the constellation Aquarius, from which they appear to emanate. A weaker shower, the Delta Aquarids typically peak in late July and produce between 10 and 20 meteors per hour around this time. A truly dark sky offers the best chance of seeing the Delta Aquarids, as they tend not to be as bright as some of the other meteor showers. In 2027, the waning crescent Moon (11 percent full) will offer a chance of viewing some of the brighter meteors.

Best Viewing: Predawn                                              Point of Origin: South

Date of Maximum: July 30, 2027                               Number Per Hour: 10

Associated Comet: —                                                 Moon Phase: Waning Crescent

 

The Power of No.

Overall, this year is going great. We started a High School Fishing Club. I get to be the head coach. We get to go practice fishing. We even took a fishing field trip. Why has this not been a thing before? All in all, most of my classes are going smoothly. Then there is “that” class. Most of the students are low maintenance. But there are three or four that are in a class of their own so to speak. I have been stretched to keep them reigned in. I mean it’s not terrible, but not what I’m used to. They seem to have an argument/excuse for everything that happens. None of them seem to know what a raised hand is for. It was taking all my creative energy to stay ahead of each event. ADHD? More like ABCDEFG.

This week we were taking a test. All I wanted was quiet without having to send anyone to the office. Somewhere along the way (it could have just been utter frustration) I used a word that I have not often used all by itself. I said no.

”I need to...” “No.”

But can’t I move...” “No.”

“I want to...” “No.”

All were the beginning of ridiculous requests. What astounded me was how the interruptions stopped. (Yes, I even said no before they even got to ask, mostly because I already knew what was coming.)

At first I was somewhat astounded. It was too simple. Them it dawned on me. When I tried to explain why they couldn’t do whatever it was that they wanted to do, they always tried to redirect or negotiate. There is really no negotiating with no. The only counter response would be to tell me “yes” which in these circumstances would essentially be direct disobedience, something that none of them seemed to want to try. A couple of them seemed to catch on, and after a raised hand and a properly framed question, finally received the answer they were hoping for. Still, it was quiet. The other students could learn uninterrupted. Amazing. One simple word, used at the correct time in the correct way made all the difference. I’m hopefully optimistic. We’ll see how next week goes. Who knows. Maybe I’ll mix it up using several languages. Could be fun… 

When Things Get Mixed Up

 

In our current unit in Biology we have been studying ecosystems around the world. This week, the topic of species came up. Technically a species is usually defined as: a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other. (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/species) This usually works, but in some cases it is still somewhat artificial. Sometimes we have organisms that could reproduce together, but because of differences in habitat, niche, or major geographical separation they are separated into different species. The dog, the coyote, and the wolf can all reproduce together. They are basically dogs. It is thought that our own domestic dog has been originally bred from a wolf ancestry. Because they usually live in distinctly different habitats that do not usually overlap, they are given different species names. The wolf is Canis lupis, the coyote is Canis lantrans, and the Dog Canis familiaris (often written Canis lupis familiaris).

Most of the odd mash-ups happen because of man’s intervention (truthfully, man’s laziness). They usually happen in collections where animals are not kept separate because of cost cutting decisions. Much of our early knowledge has come from the circus train years. Travelling circuses were notorious for keeping various kinds of animals together. It was only a matter of time.

The animal that results us usually named using the father’s name first. So a lion and a tiger, although they live on separate continents can actually interbreed, given the chance. I guess big cats are just, big cats. If the dad is a lion, it is called a liger. If he is a tiger, you get a tion. You can even add leopards into the mix and get a jaglion (jaguar + lion) or a leopon (leopard + lion). This also can happen between smaller cat species and our own domestic housecat.

Here are some other crazy mixes.

Dog-Wolf-Coyote can give a coywolf or a coydog.

Zebroids: We know from history that horses and donkeys are separate species (mules are sterile) but add a zebra in the mix and you can get all kinds of things. You can get a zorse, a zebrule, a zonkey, a zebonkey, or even a zony.

Bears are not immune. Even in the wild we find grizzly bear + polar bear = grolar bear. If you switch the parents, you get a pizzly bear.

A male camel + female llama = cama. You can get even get a geep (goat + sheep).

Marine park mismanagement has given us wholphins, a bottlenose dolphin + false killer whale. Narwhals and beluga whales can mix into narluga.

 

It just goes to show you that creation still has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. It’s what makes biology so much fun. You can’t make this stuff up. So what’s next? El Chupacabra is sounding more real all the time…

Working Together for Good

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

 

We sing it. We quote it. We even throw it at others that are having trials and tribulations in an effort to “encourage” them. But how do we react when it happens to us?

I had plans, lots of plan, good plans. Nothing this week went as planned. And yet, everything still happened, and actually turned out ok.

This year I had a group of students ask me to help them start a High School Fishing Club. We got permission to go fishing during a school day to get in some practice. (Who’d a thought it?) Unfortunately, boat logistics got in the way. We ended up fishing from shore. We got in some good practice, bonded as a team, and best of all, caught fish. I even got to wow them with my desnagging abilities.

Today we had a school carnival. I always do a butterfly house. When I went to put the new netting that I had purchased, it was two feet too short. I could swear that I had checked “repurchase” on the Amazon website. But there it was, missing the bottom. My wife suggested that I use our champing screen room. It was a brilliant idea. All I had to do was simply pop it up. I was almost done when I heard an ominous rip. So much for that idea. After a trip to Lowe’s for a roll of plastic and some heavy tape, I was back in business. The kids we’re wowed and the parents got some great pictures.

Everything got done, and the result was just as good as if I had had my way. It’s funny that we humans have such a hard time with trust. Even though trusting can get easier as we age and gained life experience, it still can be a struggle. There will always be new plans. Some will work our way; others will be bent to His will. And frankly, I’m ok with that. Because God is always doing good. 

Faces in Odd Places

 

Have you ever seen a face on something inanimate like a rock wall or even a potato chip? Scientists tell us that our brains don’t like to deal with disorder. Anytime our brains can find a recognizable pattern, they latch onto it and try to shape it into something we already know. The face on Mars (pictured on the left) is a great example. Under just the right light, causing just the right shadows, we see a face.
However, if you light it up evenly and turn the perspective slightly it just turns into another hill. Our brains saw the face because it hates randomness. The phenomenon is called pareidolia. It is a special form of apophenia, (the tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things or ideas) that turns random visual data into faces. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia)

Common examples from everyday life include me seeing a face on the back of my Toyota. One might see a face in an electrical outlet or even in a piece of fruit cut just the right way. I remember reading about people seeing Elvis on burnt toast or Jesus on a potato chip. We see bunnies, horses or even dragons in the clouds. The list goes on and on.

Over the Labor Day weekend, we took a mini camping trip to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. (Hence the reason I missed posting a blog last week.) While fishing in the North Fork of the Stanislaus River, I came across this rock in the middle of the river.

That’s where my pareidolia kicked in big time. To me it looks like a fossil dinosaur skull. So much so, that I wanted to get down the bank to really look at it. It turns out, it is just simply a rock. But it doesn’t take much imagination to turn it into a whole convoluted story. One friend of mind said, “Oh, Transformers”!

It’s another instance of “seeing is believing” getting the best of us. Very often our senses can be deceived or even betrayed by our brain wanting to see what isn’t really there. That’s why it is so important to educate ourselves concerning the truth. Life is not always what it seems. But a dinosaur skull, well that would have been cool anyway…

The Weaker Vessel

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

Have you ever wonder what Peter meant when he called women the “weaker vessel”? There seems to be a lot of confusing about it. Some try to use it as a way to mistreat women. Some use it to “keep them in their place”. Others just think that it means men are better. A smart man will realize that none of those were on Peter’s radar. Are women weak? Ask them about childbirth. Are women inferior? Try multitasking like a typical woman does. Are they weak? Try messing with one of her children. Weaker only means not as strong as what it is being compared to.

It has been said that behind every successful man is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law. All jokes aside, there is some truth in that. Finding my wife, and convincing her to spend the rest of her life putting up with me and helping me grow both intellectually and spiritually is still one of my greatest achievements.

Calling a woman the “weaker vessel” is not saying that she is inferior to man. Actually it is more the opposite. The Ming vase pictured is fragile; it is by no means inferior. An iron cup is much stronger than a porcelain tea service. It’s also ugly, rusty and you wouldn’t use it for visitors. In this case it’s fragility gives it value and importance. You treat it as a weaker vessel because of its importance. We look at histories great men leaders and often forget that there was usually a fragile, yet intelligent women helping influence decisions in ways that only they can. Anyone who disagrees is deluding themselves. Never underestimate a fragile woman holding a tea cup, pinky out. Many men have, and have paid the price.

My dad had a friend who used to say, “The man is the head of the home; The wife is the neck that turns the head”. He did not mean it in a bad way. He was not talking about a rebellious, brawling wife. He just understood that a good wife can see things that the man doesn’t and in her own “fragile”, and subtle way can keep him going in the right direction.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10

What a good woman trades in physical strength (and I’m not sure overall there is that much difference, think brute strength verses endurance) she more than makes up for in virtue, stamina, and finesse.

Weaker? Possibly. Inferior? Not hardly.

Priceless. 

Do I Allow People to Change?

There he was – a Facebook recommendation from my high school days. Some people have changed so much that I struggle to recall who they are. But not him. I’d recognize that face anywhere. He was what you might call, one of the school bullies. Well at least to a geek like me. Handsome, good at sports, he was one of the popular crowd. I can remember it like it was yesterday. There we were in an all-school assembly. He and his cronies were sitting behind me in the next row. Throughout the whole event, they kept throwing pieces of paper at the back of my head. It didn’t hurt; not physically anyway. But I could feel the embarrassment rising as my ear began to feel hot. I felt trapped, like a rat. I really didn’t want to make a scene and tell someone. Back then, snitches got stitches. There was no way I was going to turn around and say something. That would just escalate it. Punching him was out of the question. I only weighed 114lbs soaking wet. His friend was 6’3” and a linebacker on the football team. He was no runt either.

So I took it. I got over it, and buried it along with all the other uncomfortable memories from high school. At least I thought I did, until now. Facebook friend? Ha! I think not. And then came the memories of how I also had been inconsiderate of other people and their feelings. But that was then; this is now. I’ve changed. That’s when it hit me. Why was I not allowing “him” to change? High school was some of the weirdest years of our lives. For all I know, he could be a totally different person. I know I am.

I honestly don’t know if I will ever add him to my Facebook list of friends. My wife says I have too many already, so I have been very selective of late. What I do know is that I need to be more forgiving of past people and events and give them the opportunity to show that they too have grown, just as I have. The Apostle Paul summed it up this way.

 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

You, Facebook guy, wherever you are, I hope you are growing better each day. You have my permission.