The Leonid meteor shower has begun. Giving stargazers ample stars to wish upon.
The Leonids meteor shower is active from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2 and is expected to peak in the early morning hours of Nov. 16-17. The yearly spectacle occurs when the Earth passes through the debris field left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.
The Leonids are a dependable yearly shower, producing about 10-15 meteors per hour during its peak, according to NASA. So, weather permitting, the viewing conditions are expected to be favorable, as the moon will be at about 9% illumination during the shower’s peak, according to the American Meteor Society.
Where to view the Leonid meteor shower
Keep an eye out late on Nov. 16 and until the sun rises on Nov. 17. As well as possible sightings on the morning of Nov. 18, according to EarthSky.
The Leonids will be visible throughout the sky, but they seem to be coming from the constellation Leo the Lion (hence their name) in the east.
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Meteors produce a tail of debris as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere and break apart before they hit the ground. Meteorites are tiny fragments of an asteroid that have reached Earth’s surface. Some have been linked to the moon and Mars.
The majority of meteor showers have names derived from stars, constellations and even asteroids.
Where did the Leonid meteor shower originate?
Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle’s debris is the source of the Leonids. Every year, the Earth travels through a trail of dust and ice particles that are scattered throughout the comet’s orbit. These particles burn up in the atmosphere, producing the visible meteor shower, according to NASA.
Leonids are among the fastest meteors, reaching speeds of up to 44 miles per second, according to NASA.
The night the stars fell
Some of the greatest meteor showers ever seen have been the Leonids. In some years, they’ve been a full-fledged meteor “storm.” The 1833 Leonid meteor storm included rates as high as an incredible 100,000 meteors an hour, EarthSky said.
The Leonids are often bright meteors with a high percentage of persistent trains, the American Meteor Society says.
How to get the best views of the Leonid meteor shower
The ideal moment to see the Leonids is around midnight local time. Lay flat on your back, if possible, and orient yourself facing east, and look up, taking in as much of the sky as you can.
No lights: Find a spot away from city lights. Your eyes will need to adjust to the darkness, which could take 15 to 20 minutes.Dress for the weather: Bring blankets or a camping chair to make the viewing comfortable.Locate the radiant: The higher the radiant is in the sky, the more meteors you are likely to see. Watching meteor showers can take time, so be patient – it’s worth the wait.
SOURCE American Meteor Society, EarthSky.org and NASA
This story was updated to add new information.