STORM2K

Leonid Meteor Shower 2006 -- When, Where, and Why

by Melanie Melton Knocke
November 13, 2006


The nights and early morning hours of November 17-19 mark the return of the Leonid meteor shower to the skies of Earth. Will it be worth your while to get outside and take a look? Well, that depends on which expert you listen to and where you live.

For the most part, this year's Leonid's display should be a pretty typical meteor shower. Just days away from New Moon, the sky will be free of moonlight so viewers should be able to see as many as 20 faint, fast-moving meteors per hour during its peak (the evening of November 17, early morning of November 18).

However, unlike a typical meteor shower, astronomers are predicting an unusual "outburst" of meteor activity late November 18 - early November 19 (the date it occurs depends on where you live).

Viewers along the northeastern coast of the United States and Canada, as well as people in Europe and western Africa might get to see a possible "outburst" of as many as 100-600 meteors per hour. This spike in activity is predicted for 11:45 p.m. - 1:33 a.m. EST on November 18-19 (4:45 - 6:33 UT on November 19).


This outburst is tied to Earth's passage through a particularly dense debris trail left by the comet 55P Tempel-Tuttle during its 1932 pass around the Sun. In 1969, Earth passed through this same region with rather spectacular -- though brief -- results (with viewers seeing 2-4 meteors per minute over a 30-minute period). This year's passage probably won't produce quite the same intensity as it did in 1969. Even still, astronomers are predicting anywhere from 100 to 600 meteors per hour. (The predictions vary depending on when Earth actually passes through the trail: earlier, fewer meteors -- later, more meteors.)

Even at 100 meteors per hour, the Leonids won't be as spectacular as other showers. Traditionally, the meteors that make up this shower are much smaller and therefore fainter when they hit Earth's atmosphere and burn up. In addition, these are usually fast-moving meteors, so you have to look quick for those faint streaks.

As a result, it is especially important to observe the Leonid shower from dark skies. For a change, you don't have to worry about the Moon during this shower. Its thin, waning crescent shape doesn't rise until just before sunrise on the 18th and 19th, so it won't interfere and drowned out any meteors. However, those pesky city lights will. So, if you are going to observe the shower, make an effort to drive to a location that has few if any lights nearby. (That may require quite a bit of driving these days, but it should be worth it.) Be sure and pack a lawn chair, a blanket, and a thermos filled with a hot beverage.

For more meteor shower observing tips, visit Meteor Showers: Where, When, and How to Look for Them.

Meteor showers offer a great excuse to sit outside and enjoy nature -- just be sure to pack warm clothes, these November nights get chilly.


Looks like another good viewing is setting up for tomorrow night!

Excellent.
I just hope it won't be cloudy

it says somthing about the NE but what about the SE?

it's too cold to meteorwatch!

Visibility conditions are very marginal for the SE and even worse for the Gulf Coast and nil from the Mississippi River west. As for being too cold, it depends upon how cold you think too cold is. In 1963, I observed the Black Eclips of the Moon in temperatures below zero enough to freeze the oil in the bearings of my telescope mount and I have observed the Leonids, Geminids and Quadrantids in temperatures well below freezing. OTOH, I observed the secondary maximum of the Leonids in 1966 in the Philippines in 70 degree temperatures.

Steve

NRL shut off their AMSRE sensor due to the shower.

I sure like to see it.

I just went outside and didnt see squat, but i know tomorrow is going to be the peak of it... as for visibility conditions here, it is crystal clear and quite chilly!! I will be outside tomorrow night to check on them... Did anyone see the Leonids back in 2001? That was an amazing show!!!

Thanks for the reminder Yankeegirl. I missed 2001 but hopefully get lucky and see some tomorrow night as slim as the chances are down here.

Please Sky!
Please clear, please please please.

Good thing the weather is going to be horrible for meteor watching here in Ohio.

I saw 1-2 meteors last night (in a 30-45 minute period). Nothing too special. This doesn't even begin to compare to what I saw back in 2001 during that amazing shower.

May be tonight will be a little more interesting..

My estimated hourly rate for the 2001 Leonids here was 1800/hr. Actually, except for 1999 all of the Leonid showers between 1998 and 2002 were good. The secondary max I saw in the Philippines in 1966 was a lot like the 1998 shower a bit below storm level but with lots of bright ones. Unfortunately, due to Planetary perturbations, the next really big shows for the Leonids won't take place until 2099 at the earliest.

Steve

that 2001 meteor shower will probabaly not be matched any time soon. I was half a sleep at 7:00 and the town fire alarm went off (it was a small town in NY). everyone heard it and went out. It was simply remarkable. my fgather drove us up on top of a desolate hill and it only got better i laid on a sheet and watched them all night.

it isnt gonna clear up...so so much for the meteor shower show tonight for me. thank god for hockey!

I know I am in the south and in the city no less, but I will be out there trying to catch a few shooters. Its a bit chilly so I may have to make me a few alcoholic beverages to warm up.

From the information I have I am gathering I am suppost to be looking toward the N.East???

i live in st. pete and it is bright. im hoping i will be able to see some meteors.

Too many clouds in the way. Not even going to bother going outside to see if I can see anything.

It is very clear out tonight, I walked down to the bay a few hours ago and the sky was just filled with stars,but I saw no meteors.Maybe later tonight they'll show up,our local met did say we would be able to see some from our area.

Opal storm wrote:It is very clear out tonight, I walked down to the bay a few hours ago and the sky was just filled with stars,but I saw no meteors.Maybe later tonight they'll show up,our local met did say we would be able to see some from our area.

Yeah, but aren't you on the west coast? I think we are suppost to be looking NE. I am not sure though. I am about to go goggle some info on that right now. I have been outside scouting out a place to set up. The phone just rang and my B/F in Ocala all excited said she just saw 2.