November’s top astronomy event is about to put on a dazzling display in the night sky -- one of the most famous meteor showers in recent astronomical history.
The annual Leonids came to fame back in the 1800s due to impressive outbursts of shooting stars, but this year’s showing will be more tame as it reaches its peak on Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
“This year will be a typical year for the Leonids, which means about 15 meteors per hour,” AccuWeather Astronomy Blogger Dave Samuhel said. Like most meteor showers, it will be best seen during the latter part of the night leading up to daybreak.
Stargazers that spend Monday night under the heavens could spot a few extra shooting stars due to the waning Northern Taurids, a minor meteor shower that has a plateaulike peak around the second week of November.
A meteor captured during the 2009 rendition of the Leonid meteor shower. (Photo/Navicore)
This year will be a good year for viewing the Leonids as it peaks on a moonless night. Because of that, onlookers will be able to see the fainter shooting stars that would normally be washed out by the light of a glowing moon. However, folks will want to keep a close eye on the cloud forecast before heading outside.”Shooting stars to streak across sky this week amid famous meteor shower