500 Meteors Per Hour: The Leonid Meteor Shower 2009
This year’s Leonid meteor shower is being predicted as very strong, with up to 500 meteors per hour visible as Earth passes through the debris left by the comet Tempel-Tuttle.
The Leonids are so named because to the person on the ground viewing them, the meteors in this shower, appearing as ‘shooting stars’, emanate or stream from the constellation of Leo.
More Leonid Meteors predicted for the pre-dawn hours of 18th November !! … http://scienceray.com/astronomy/more-leonid-meteors-predicted-for-the-pre-dawn-hours-of-18th-november-2009/
To imagine this effect better, think of the Earth as a car driving in a snow shower. To the driver the snow always appears as if it is coming straight toward the car windscreen, when in reality the snow is actually falling gently, straight down to the ground. As Earth passes through the debris left by Tempel-Tuttle, the viewers on the planet see the meteors coming toward them from the constellation Leo.
So, find a great viewing position, the country side is best, preferably at the top of a hill where your view to the horizon is not blocked. The countryside is best because you won’t be affected by the light pollution of street and house lights that make viewing meteors from a town setting much more difficult. This does not mean to say that you’ll see nothing from a town, it’s just that you’re likely to see things much more clearly from somewhere without the light pollution.
Peak viewing for this shower is recommended on the 17th November at around 2130 in the UK and around 0200am in the US (translate these times locally for your best viewing). The Moon will be at just past New Moon (the tiniest of slithers may be visible), so conditions are even more ideal with no light pollution from the moon.
Take a flask of hot tea or coffee as it’s likely to get cold, and if you have a garden lounger or something similar all the better as after a little while your neck will ache from craning upwards all the time if standing.
Enjoy the show !!
You may be interested in my other related articles:
http://scienceray.com/astronomy/no-telescope-required-leonid-meteor-shower-17th-november-2009/
http://socyberty.com/history/calling-all-moon-men-calling-all-moon-men/
http://scienceray.com/astronomy/the-real-size-of-our-solar-system/
Thanks for reading
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17 Responses to “500 Meteors Per Hour: The Leonid Meteor Shower 2009”
On November 6, 2009 at 8:10 am
What a good read enjoyed it nice article!
On November 6, 2009 at 8:17 am
Hi,
This is wonderful. I need to tell my dad who has a telescope to watch for this. He loves doing Star party: for any one who does not know what Star Party is : group of people get together for the weekend somewhere high on hill and camp out with there telescope and watch the stars and the moon and planets etc…
My dad is always telling us stories aboput people he meets. My dad is in 70’s and still camps out to watch the stars.
Thanks You Lee Ness
On November 6, 2009 at 8:21 am
Interesting one to read
On November 6, 2009 at 9:45 am
Fine article and good information,I will be out on the night with my telescope.
On November 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I am a big star gazer – informative and very well done!
On November 6, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Yikes! That’s a lot of meteors!
On November 6, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I agree with Papa Sparks….Yikes!!!! LOL….but thank you I want to check it out myself….I’ve always thought that earth wasn’t my home. ha ha ha
On November 6, 2009 at 10:06 pm
great article. me and my friends plan to be out there with telescopes all night.
On November 7, 2009 at 12:50 am
Star parties sound incredible! This was very interesting and I need to keep this date in mind. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Peace, happiness. It would seem peaceful to stargaze!
On November 7, 2009 at 3:52 am
Good post and very informative. I’ll mark it on my calendar.
On November 7, 2009 at 4:08 am
very nice info, i’ll mark my calendar too, thanks *
On November 7, 2009 at 4:45 am
it’s a useful information. Thanks for share.
http://www.replicawatchesindia.info
On November 7, 2009 at 7:33 am
Thanks for all the great comments so far !
Just to clarify….no telescope required…see:
http://scienceray.com/astronomy/no-telescope-required/
On November 7, 2009 at 8:33 am
It might be an asteroid hehehe…
On November 9, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Very nice. I’m sure I’ll be out there freezing like the rest of the readers. Telescopes are only a hindrance because meteorites travel far too fast to sight in on.
On November 12, 2009 at 11:20 am
Anybody knows when will be the optimal time to watch in Europe? How to find out?
On November 12, 2009 at 12:09 pm
The shower is expected to peak in the predawn hours of November 17. The Moon will be at just past New Moon (the tiniest of slithers visible, so it shouldn’t give too much light pollution.
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