What are the major meteor showers visible from Earth?

Meteor showers are spectacular events that can be observed from Earth as debris from comets or asteroids enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up, creating bright streaks across the night sky. Here are some of the top meteor showers that can be seen from Earth:

1. Perseids

The Perseids are one of the most popular meteor showers, occurring annually from late July to mid-August. They are known for producing up to 100 meteors per hour at their peak and are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere.

2. Geminids

The Geminids are another prominent meteor shower that takes place in December each year. They are one of the strongest meteor showers, with up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. They are visible from both hemispheres.

3. Leonids

The Leonids occur in mid-November and are linked to the comet Tempel-Tuttle. They are known for producing bright, fast meteors and occasional meteor storms with hundreds to thousands of meteors per hour.

Other notable meteor showers include the Quadrantids in January, the Orionids in October, and the Lyrids in April. These celestial events are popular among skywatchers and astronomers for their dazzling displays of shooting stars.