The Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend. On Saturday morning, November 17, many people around the world may be able to catch sight of one of this shows "shooting stars." For those who want to stay indoors, NASA will also provide a live stream video.
This 2012 meteor shower season has been favorable for stargazers. The Leonid meteor shower won't be any different as the moon will only rise as a crescent and will set in the west before the Leo constellation rises. The Leo constellation is where the Leonids seem to radiate from, which explains their name. With minimal moonlight and clear weather, stargazer should be able to get a good view of the night sky, according to Space.com
The only issue is that the Leonid meteor shower isn't as impressive as others that took place earlier this year. The meteor rate can be unpredictable, but it isn't likely that more than 10 to 20 meteors will streak across the night sky. This means that star gazers will have to keep their eyes open and will have to be a bit patient, as a meteor may only light up every couple of minutes.
The Leonid meteors are formed from debris of the Tempel-Tuttle comet. This comet passes through the solar system every 33 years and leaves behind dust. This left behind debris enter the Earth's orbit around mid-November. The Earth passes through this debris, allowing those on land to view the leftovers of the comet.
A big aspect of watching a meteor shower is knowing what time to look. according to the 2012 Observer's Handbook of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the peak should take place on Saturday morning, Nov. 17, at about 3 a.m. ET (0800 GMT). At this time, the earth closely passes the orbit of the comet. Those in North America, especially those in the eastern United States and Canada will have a very favorable view.
While meteors can occur anywhere in the sky, the most concentrated group will come out of the Leo constellation, which is just south of the recognizable Big Dipper.
For those who miss the show on Saturday morning, the Leonids will have a second peak on Tuesday, Nov. 20 and stargazers may also be able to catch some throughout the week.
If you want to wait for an even bigger and more impressive star show, the Geminids will peak around Dec. 13. This show has a high meteor rate at 100 shooting stars per hour, so your chance to see something are much higher.
The best way to view a meteor shower is to find a dark place that is away from lights and obstacles like buildings and trees. You may strain your neck by staring upwards for so long, so it is best to lie down on a chair or blanket.
To see the NASA Live Stream Video of the Leonids, watch the video below. The camera is activated only when the sky is dark, so there may be a blank screen. The best time to watch the video is at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time, when the Leonids will peak.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
