This spectacular image compiles 33 Leonid meteors captured overnight from Nov. 18 to Nov. 19, 2001.
In mid-November, spectacular “shooting stars” will streak through the night sky as the Leonid meteor shower hits Earth once again. This annual meteor shower is responsible for some of the most intense meteor storms in history, with meteors falling at rates as high as 50,000 per hour.
This year’s Leonid meteor shower won’t be quite as impressive, though, said NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke. “This year, the Leonids are not in outburst, so the rates are going to be about 10 to 15 per hour,” he said. Outbursts occur when the Earth passes through a particularly dense patch of meteors.
“The Leonids are a very minor meteor shower until they outburst, or storm,” Cooke said, “and that’s not projected to happen again until 2033.”
Visibility will also be poor this year, because bright light from a waning gibbous moon will likely outshine some of the meteors, Cooke said. Despite the small number of meteors per hour and the moon’s interference, however, it is still possible to see the meteor shower. Read on to find out how to get the best view of the Leonids this year. [Top 10 Leonid Meteor Shower Facts]
When to see them
The Leonid meteor shower peaks on the night of Thursday, Nov. 17, and early the following morning. Skywatchers might be able to see some meteors as early as Sunday, Nov. 13. However, with a full supermoon slated to rise Monday, Nov. 12, moonlight will likely outshine most meteors, rendering them difficult to see.
But don’t feel bummed if you don’t spot any of the early meteors. The Leonids will continue to graze the night sky until Nov. 21. At this point, the waning moon will be at its third quarter, meaning only half of the moon’s face will illuminate the sky. With less of the moon’s natural light obstructing the view, skywatchers who were unable to see the meteor shower at first will still have a chance to catch the last Leonid meteors. [Most Amazing Leonid Meteor Shower Photos]
Meteors appear to come out of the constellation Leo during the Leonid meteor shower, which is expected to peak on Monday.
Credit: StarDate Magazine
Where to see the Leonids
The Leonid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Leo, where its meteors appear to originate. But it isn’t necessary to look in any particular direction to enjoy the meteor shower, Cooke said.
Although the meteor shower might be a bit easier to see from the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere should be able to see the show as well. “They’re not quite as good, but almost as good,” said Cooke. “The Leonids are an OK shower from the Southern Hemisphere.”
Italian astrophotographer Lorenzo Lovato photographed this spectacular fireball from the 1998 Leonid meteor shower on Nov. 17, 1998.
Credit: Lorenzo Lovato
What causes the Leonids?
The Leonid meteor shower happens every year in November, when Earth’s orbit crosses the orbit of Comet Tempel-Tuttle. The comet makes its way around the sun every 33.3 years, leaving a trail of dust rubble in its wake.
When Earth’s orbit crosses this trail of debris, pieces of the comet fall toward the planet’s surface. Drag, or air resistance, in Earth’s atmosphere cause the comet’s crumbs to heat up and ignite into burning balls of fire called meteors. [How Comets Cause Meteor Showers]
These comet crumbs are usually the size of a grain of sand or a pea, so they tend to burn up entirely before striking Earth’s surface. Meteors that survive the whole journey to the ground are called meteorites. But the Leonid meteor shower likely won’t deliver any meteorites.
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Meteor Shower Quiz: How Well Do You Know ‘Shooting Stars’?
Meteor showers can be awesome night sky sights, but how well do you know your shooting star facts? Find out here and good luck!
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What do you need to see them?
Meteors will be visible to the naked eye, so you won’t need any special equipment to see them. This year, the only thing you might need is patience, Cooke said, because the meteors won’t be very frequent.
“Go outside, find a dark sky, lie flat on your back and look straight up,” Cooke said, “and be prepared to spend a couple of hours outside.”
If the weather ruins your view, you can check out the Slooh Community Observatory’s free online broadcast of the Leonid meteor shower. You can also catch this broadcast live on Space.com, courtesy of Slooh.
Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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