Bright and Active Arietids Meteors May Hit Pre-Dawn Hours of Oregon, Washington, Coastline Skies

Published 05/29/25 at 6:45 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Bandon, Oregon) - A daytime meteor shower? Bahhh.....you say? Well, you wouldn't be all wrong as there's not much documentation around these Pacific Northwest parts. But it does happen, and one very big one is on the way which you can spot just before dawn (Oregon Coast Beach Connection photo: Cannon Beach's Hug Point and star movement).

In fact, it all starts right about now, so those in Oregon, Washington, or coastal towns like Forks, Bandon, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Newport or Long Beach may want to keep an eye out an hour before sunrise. Indeed, areas with great glimpses of the east at dawn such as Seattle's Space Needle, the eastern faces of the Cascades or the Oregon Coast Range could be line for the money shot.

They're called the Daytime Arietids, according to NASA and groups like EarthSky.org. They are the most active of the daytime meteor showers and they're peaking on June 7.

Starting May 29 it goes through June 17, but you'll see the most in and around the 7th. The Arietids originate from a radiant point positioned just 30 degrees from the sun. This proximity means that most of their dazzling display remains hidden from view.

Dark Sky Week is Prime Along Oregon Coast: Where and Where Not to Go : Cool spots for viewing around Coos Bay, Brookings, Manzanita, Lincoln City, Cannon Beach, Newport, Florence.

Bandon Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

However, for those hoping to spot these meteors, timing is everything – and 2025 is a bit special for that. This year's best chance comes in the narrow period when the radiant has just risen - right before astronomical twilight, the darkest phase of early morning. During this time, the sun’s center is positioned between 12 and 18 degrees below the horizon, making it possible to witness the spectacle in an otherwise unlit sky.

So, those in Portland, Ashland, Tacoma or Stevenson can maybe begin their morning with a cup of Joe and a fiery display.

WHAT WILL YOUR WEATHER BE LIKE? - Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather  - Inland Oregon Weather

How many can you see? Some have reported as high as 200 an hour in the past, and various radar and other observational mechanisms have seen an average of 60 meteors per hour. According to last year's forecast from the American Meteor Society, sightings may remain below one per hour depending on location.

Skywatchers should look toward the east in the predawn hours, which for Oregon and Washington translates to about 3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. While meteors will radiate outward in all directions, only those traveling high enough will breach the horizon, creating fleeting, upward-moving streaks in the eastern sky.

Meteor over Manzanita / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

The Arietids have intrigued astronomers since 1947, when they were first identified via radar at the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope in England. Exactly where they came from was a mystery until the late '80s. Amateur astronomer Don Machholz discovered Comet 96P/Machholz in 1986, but it gets stranger from there. There is speculation that the Arietids belong to a larger celestial structure known as the Machholz Complex - a grouping of two comet families, eight meteor showers, and at least one asteroid linked to Comet 96P/Machholz.

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