Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower | 8th February

The Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower returns to WA’s night sky from 28th January to 21th February, peaking on 8th February.

The shower gets its name from the apparent origin of the meteors, in this case, the constellation of Centaurus, which rises in the south eastern sky at this time of year. This means that the meteors will appear to come from a south easterly direction.

The Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower is a result of Earth passing through the debris left by an unknown celestial object. Usually it’s a the trail of debris left behind by a comet or other celestial body that has come into our solar system. In the case of the Alpha Centaurids, it’s not currently known what body it was.

The Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower usually produces about 6 meteors per hour, and the higher the meteor shower gets in the sky, the higher the number of potentially visible meteors. Most of the Alpha Centaurid meteors will be quite faint, so darker surroundings makes it easier to see them.

When and where to look:

The peak of the Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower is from 11pm on 8th February. However, this year’s Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower peak coincides with a first quarter moon. Wait until after 2am on 9th February to reduce the impact from the moonlight. Look towards the south east and to the left of the Southern Cross.

What is a meteor shower?

A meteor (commonly called a “shooting star”) is an unexpected, brief streak of light seen in our night sky. It’s caused when space debris, travelling up to 75km per second, enters Earth’s atmosphere. The debris can be as small as a grain of sand which burns up in the atmosphere and causes a bright streak of light to appear briefly in our night sky.

A meteor shower is a celestial spectacle where large numbers of meteors, or “shooting stars”, streak across the night sky. These dazzling events occur when Earth passes through the the trail of debris left by a comet or other object that has come into our Solar System and orbited around the Sun. Visible to the naked eye, meteor showers offer a mesmerizing display of bright streaks, adding a touch of cosmic wonder to the night. 

Where’s the best place to see the meteor shower?

The best place to see a meteor shower is away from bright city lights and when the night sky is dark with no moonlight. Bright moonlight and light pollution makes it harder to see fainter meteors, however you may still be able to see the brighter ones.

Travel out to a dark sky location at one of WA’s Astrotourism Towns. If you’re an astrophotographer, it is an excellent opportunity to image meteors over some of WA’s iconic landscapes. Where are WA’s Astrotourism Towns? 

You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to see a meteor shower. It’s a great time to gather with friends, roll out your favourite picnic rug, pack the drinks and snacks, and start counting how many “shooting stars” you all see! The predicted hourly rate of meteors presumes you’re viewing them in a perfectly dark sky and that the shower is directly overhead. Fingers crossed for a spectacular show!

Something interesting

Meteor showers are named after the constellation where the “shooting stars” appear to be coming from. In the case of the Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower, the meteors come from the direction of the constellation Centaurus which is near the Southern Cross. If you have a handy smart phone app that helps you identify objects in the night sky, search for the constellation, and you’ll be looking in the right direction.

You might like to…

Become a citizen scientist and report meteor sightings! If you happen to see a very bright meteor (often referred to as a “fireball”), WA’s Fireballs in the Sky team based at Curtin University would love to know! Report your fireball sighting with the International Meteor Organization.

The International Meteor Organization is a great place to discover more about all things meteors. Check out their Meteor Shower Calendar. You might even like to become a member!