Tonight Get Set For Spectacular Leonids Meteor Shower

Keep in mind star gazers that although only about one-quarter of the lunar hemisphere that faces Earth is illuminated, the Moon stands near Leo, where the Leonidis Meteor Shower originates, so it is going to make star gazing a bit tricky. Nonetheless the Leonid meteor shower has produced some of the most spectacular meteor displays in history, so dust off your telescopes and enjoy the show.

Periodic in nature, the Leonids meteor shower began on November 13 and is due to end on November 21, with maximum generally occurring between November 16/18. The Leonids are barely detectable on the beginning and ending dates, but observers are generally treated to displays of about 10 meteors per hour on the night of maximum. About every 33 years, the Leonids enters a phase of enhanced activity that accompanies the return of its parent comet. During these periods, rates can amount to hundreds and even thousands of meteors per hour. The last such enhanced period occurred during the period of 1998-2002 and the Leonids have been winding down ever since.

There are other, weaker meteor showers going on around the same time as the Leonids. The Leonids move very fast. When you see a meteor, mentally trace it backwards. If you end up at Leo then you have probably seen a Leonid meteor!