This year's Leonid meteor shower is officially underway, and early reports of meteor sightings are beginning to trickle in
This year's Leonid meteor shower is officially underway, with early reports of meteor sightings beginning to trickle in.
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The part of Earth where dawn is breaking is always at the leading edge of our planet's plunge along its orbital path around the Sun. This part of the planet tends to "catch" oncoming meteors left by a comet, whereas the other side of Earth, where it is dusk or late evening, outruns the debris. For that reason, the hours between midnight and dawn are typically the best time to watch a meteor shower.
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 Leonids Special Report
When, where and how to watch the meteor shower. Plus photo tips, the danger to satellites, and more.
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Though the Leonids peak early Sunday morning, they run from Nov. 15-21. Other sources of shooting stars make now a busy time, and viewers in dark locations can expect to see as many two dozen or more shooting stars per hour on any early morning through Monday.
A handful of observers in the United States and Europe reported spotting 1 or 2 Leonids, along with other shooting stars not associated with the Leonids, Thursday morning. Lew Gramer, an amateur astronomer and experienced meteor watcher, spotted two Leonids and 21 other shooting stars during roughly an hour of observation from China.
>>> UPDATE 17 NOV 2001 6:35 A.M. EST
Second Night, More Leonids
A second night of observation proved fruitful for Lew Gramer, who saw some exciting early Leonid activity.
Gramer reported, from China, spotting 191 shooting stars over a four-hour period -- nearly one per minute. Fifty-two of those were Leonids, by his count.
Gramer also witnessed "a mini-burst of 6 Leonids in only 3 minutes," he said.
New Jersey skywatcher Wayne T. Hally counted seven Leonids during two hours in the pre-dawn Saturday sky. Hally reported his findings to MeteorObs, a newsletter run by Gramer. An observer in India noted 12 Leonids over three hours.
And even under the bright lights of Philadelphia, with few stars visible in the early morning sky as dawn broke, this reporter spotted a lone bright flash of light streak directly overhead. Nearly as bright as the brightest star. A Leonid, whetting the appetite for Sunday morning.
END UPDATE <<<
Good practice
For those who want a little practice in advance of the expected storm of meteors Sunday morning, astronomers suggest going out early Saturday morning to test your sky conditions and meteor-observing abilities.
From Saturday through Monday, around the world, morning observers with dark skies can expect to see up to 35 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere and 20 in the Southern Hemisphere, according to Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society.
Rates will be lower in cities. And, of course, the rates will skyrocket in some locations early Sunday morning. Other bursts of Leonid activity could occur at any time on any morning through Monday, astronomers say.
These rates assume that you are watching from rural areas away from all sources of light pollution. How many shooting stars you see will also depend on local weather conditions and how alert and experienced you are, Lunsford said.
More to look for
Even under bright city lights, there are other objects that anyone can find in the night sky this time of year.
Jupiter is easy to spot. It's the brightest "star" in the sky. Jupiter is in the east in the late evening and moves to the southwest by dawn. And just before sunrise, Venus shines very brightly and very low in the east.
Mars is in the south to southwest for a couple hours after sunset. Look for an orange or reddish light low on the horizon.
TIPS: When, Where, and How to View the Leonids
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