The September Epsilon Perseids meteor shower
Key facts
- Peak
- around 9 September
- Active
- about 5–21 September
- Rate at peak (ZHR)
- about 5–8; outbursts in 2008 and 2013
- Speed
- 64 km/s
- Radiant
- Perseus (near the star Epsilon Persei)
- Parent body
- An unidentified long-period comet
Dates shift slightly from year to year. This year's peak is in the events calendar, and the meteor-shower planner shows how high the radiant climbs from where you live, night by night.
The September Epsilon Perseids are a weak shower that has twice surprised observers with bursts of fast, bright meteors, both times over Europe.
History. The shower was long known only as one of several faint, overlapping radiants in Perseus, Auriga and Aries in September, once grouped under names such as the Delta Aurigids. On 9 September 2008, video cameras recorded a short outburst of bright, fast meteors from near Epsilon Persei. Measured orbits showed they came from a long-period comet. A second outburst happened on the night of 9–10 September 2013, when cameras at Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK and Europe recorded around 20 meteors in two hours, far more than usual, some of them fireballs brighter than Venus.
The parent. The parent comet has not been discovered. Its orbit suggests a comet that takes many centuries to orbit the Sun. Outbursts like these happen when Earth crosses a narrow trail of dust released during one of the comet's earlier passes.
The radiant. The radiant is in Perseus, close to Epsilon Persei, in the southern part of the constellation. It is not far from where the August Perseids come from, but the two showers are unrelated and active at different times.
What to expect. In most years a handful of meteors an hour, often bright and fast. The peak is around 9 September.
Viewing from the UK. Very good. Perseus rises in the north-east in the evening and is high overhead before dawn. Early September nights are dark, mild and long enough for a comfortable session. Because both outbursts were seen from Britain and Ireland, UK observers have a real chance of contributing.
Viewing worldwide. This is a northern shower. From the southern hemisphere, Perseus stays low in the north.
Viewing tips
- Watch after midnight, when Perseus is high in the north-east.
- Find Mirfak, the brightest star of Perseus, then look south for Epsilon Persei.
- Note any bright, fast meteor near 9 September: this shower has surprised observers before.
- Run a camera all night around the peak to record any outburst.
- Report fireballs with times and directions to a national fireball network.