2007 Leonid Meteor Shower

Posted by Rhonda

Picture Taken from EarthSky

This is the time of year for the Leonid meteor shower. It is predicted to peak on Sunday, November 18th, so the best time for viewing will be the early morning hours (2am-4am).

The moon will be in it’s first quarter phase. As with the Orionid meteor shower last month, the moon will have set by 2am, which should make for good observing. The frequency is expected to be about 10-15 meteors per hour. On a clear dark night it should be a great site.

From the Astronomy Magazine Newsletter

The Moon’s absence makes this a good year for Leonid meteors. The shower peaks the morning of November 18, and the First Quarter Moon sets when the radiant rises, around midnight local time. Under a dark sky, meteor rates should range from 20 to 40 per hour once Leo climbs reasonably high after 3 A.M.
Although astronomers don’t expect a major outburst, East Coast observers may see heightened activity before midnight November 17, when Earth crosses the orbital node of the Leonids’ parent comet, 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.
In the hour or two before dawn, Leonids strike Earth’s atmosphere head on. This results in many bright events and some fireballs (meteors brighter than magnitude -4). Fireballs easily pierce twilight, so keep watch as the stars fade with dawn’s approach.

Related Links for the Leonids

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Happy Observing…

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