Astronomy geeks and amateur stargazers alike are getting an incredible show from the Leonid meteor shower this week as bits of debris and dust from comet Tempel-Tuttle hit the earth’s atmosphere creating amazing streaks and bursts of light that can easily be seen by the naked eye.
While the meteor shower is predicted to last from November 13 to 20, the pros say the peak of the spectacle (and it is a spectacle!) is tonight, and the best time to see the Leonid meteor shower in full effect is between 1:30am and sunrise.
Named the Leonid shower because the most meteors appear to come from the constellation Leo, it’s the best show in the sky after the Perseids meteor shower that takes place in late August every year.
Scientists say this year’s Leonid shower should yield, at its peak, 20-30 meteors per hour as the comet makes its annual trip around the sun. If you’re not already a savvy skywatcher, here are a few tips for optimal meteor shower viewing:
1. Find a place with as little light pollution as possible – in urban areas, find the middle of a big park or get to the roof of a tall building. Better yet, get out of the city if you can.
2. Bring blankets or reclining beach chairs – you’ll want to be able to keep your eyes on the sky comfortably.
3. Bundle up and bring a thermos full of something warm and tasty to sip on. Hot chocolate, tea, mulled wine, anyone?
4. Make it a party. Seriously, what better way to enjoy the amazing feats of our universe than with a bunch of friends?
5. Bring a date. Oh, how romantic!
Comments
David Jackson
November 17th, 2009 - 9:11:59 PM
I live up in northern Minnesota, there is little light pollution here and every year I have had an amazing view of the leonids showers! I decided to setup a couple cameras with live feeds to share my view with others. If you’re interested you can check it out at my website here: http://tinyurl.com/watch-leonid-meteor-live