Get ready for a celestial spectacle as the Leonid meteor shower reaches its peak next week! This annual event is one of the most renowned in astronomy, and it's about to put on a show that will leave you in awe.
The Leonids are known for their incredible displays, with some of the most memorable meteor storms occurring in 1799, 1833, and 1966. These storms witnessed tens of thousands of meteors per hour, creating a breathtaking celestial light show. More recently, in 1999, 2001, and 2002, we witnessed lesser but still impressive displays of a few thousand meteors per hour.
The name "Leonids" comes from the constellation Leo, the Lion, where these meteors appear to originate. The source of this cosmic display is the periodic comet Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33⅓ years. Each time this comet passes, it leaves a trail of "rubble" - a dense path of dusty debris. The key to a meteor storm is Earth's direct path through this fresh trail of comet dust.
The heaviest concentrations of meteoroids are found in the general vicinity of the comet. In 1998, Tempel-Tuttle last swept through the inner solar system, resulting in spectacular meteor showers in the years that followed. However, as the comet reached its aphelion in 2016, an incredible 1.84 billion miles (2.96 billion km) from the Sun, the meteor activity began to decline.
Now, as Tempel-Tuttle makes its way back towards the Sun, we can expect the Leonids to slowly improve. The best years of the next Leonid cycle are predicted to be 2034 and 2035, with potential hourly rates in the hundreds. But for those eager to witness a meteor shower sooner, the December Geminids are just around the corner, offering an even more prolific display with over 100 meteors per hour.
So, mark your calendars for the upcoming Leonid meteor shower. For North America, the best time to look will be before dawn on Tuesday, November 18. While the activity may be lower this year, with an expected rate of 5 to 10 meteors per hour, it's still a chance to witness a celestial event that has captivated astronomers and stargazers for centuries. And remember, the darker and more unobstructed your viewing location, the better your chances of catching these cosmic visitors.
For those interested in capturing the Leonids on camera, the Nikon D850 is an excellent choice for astrophotography. And if you're curious about the best time to view the Leonids, keep an eye on the constellation Leo, which will fully come into view after midnight. As dawn approaches, you'll see the Sickle constellation climb more than two-thirds of the way up from the southeast horizon to the zenith, directly overhead.
Stay tuned for more updates and details as we get closer to these exciting celestial events! Space.com will keep you informed, so you don't miss a thing.
And for those eager to learn more about astronomy and meteor showers, Joe Rao, Space.com's skywatching columnist and a veteran meteorologist, is an excellent resource. You can find him on Twitter and YouTube, where he shares his expertise and passion for celestial events.
