If there are any budding astronomers in your house, wake them early on Tuesday morning, dress them warmly and take them outside so they can see what is predicted to be one of the best meteor showers of the year. The Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak between 1 a.m. and dawn.
And, thanks to the moon entering a new phase, the dark skies mean they won't need a telescope to see the spectacular light show.
The Leonids are created by the comet Tempel-Tuttle and are named because they appear to radiate from the constellation Leo. According to Space.com, the comet passes through the inner solar system every 33 years. During each pass, it leaves debris, mostly bits of ice and rock. When Earth plows into the debris, the bits hit the atmosphere and vaporize, creating sometimes dramatic streaks of light and the occasional fireball with a smoky-looking trail.
The best viewing will be in rural areas, so if you have local lights, scout a location in advance where the lights are blocked by a building, tree or hill then look up and enjoy the show.
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