TheVirginids are ameteor shower. There are many major and minor meteor shower streams that occur during theVirginid Complex,[1] including theAlpha Virginids,Gamma Virginids,[2][3][4][5]Eta Virginids,Theta Virginids,Iota Virginids,[6]Lambda Virginids,[7]Mu Virginids,[8]Pi Virginids, andPsi Virginids,[9] andMarch Virginids,[10][11] emanating mostly from the constellationVirgo between February and May.[1] Collectively, the shower normally lasts from late January to mid-April[12] and into early May,[1] peaking in March and April,[1][12] with one to two meteors per hour on average.[12] The mainradiant shifts southeastwards from centralLeo in late January to centralVirgo nearSpica in mid-May.[13]
TheAlpha Virginids occur between March 10 and May 6, peaking between April 7 and April 18, with five to ten meteors per hour. They were first detected in 1895.[14]
The North and SouthGamma Virginids are a slow-moving minor meteor shower stream,[2][3] although the May Gamma Virginids and Daytime Gamma Virginids are faster-moving.[4][5] The source of the North and South Gamma Virginid streams are thought to be2002 FC and2003 BD44, respectively.[2][3] It usually spans from April 5 to April 21, peaking on April 14 and April 15, with less than five meteors per hour. It was first discovered in 1895.[15]
TheEta Virginids occur between February 24 and March 27, peaking around March 18 with only one to two meteors per hour. The shower was first detected in 1961.[16]
TheTheta Virginids occur between March 10 and April 21, peaking around March 20, with only one to three meteors per hour. The shower was first observed in 1850 and identified in 1948.[17]
TheIota Virginids are a minor daytime meteor shower stream.[6]
TheLambda Virginids are a minor meteor shower stream.[7]
The Mu virginids are a minor meteor shower stream, visible in April[18] and early May. The shower typically lasts from April 1 to May 12, peaking around April 24[19] to April 25. Its radiant is nearLibra, peaking with seven to ten meteors per hour.[20]
ThePi Virginids occur between February 13 and April 8, peaking between March 3 and March 9, with two to five meteors per hour. The shower was first observed in 1908 and identified in 1948.[21]
ThePsi Virginids are a minor daytime meteor shower stream.[9]
TheMarch Virginids are a minor meteor shower stream; the source of the Northern March Virginids is thought to be1998 SJ70.[10][dead link] TheBeta Leonids, lasting from February 14 to April 25, peaking around March 20 with three to four meteors per hour, were also referred to as the "March Virginids".[22]
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