Sky fans: An exciting meteor shower is headed our way. Anyone who lives in the Bay Area, and indeed the Northern Hemisphere, may be in for a good old-fashioned sky show, just by looking up.
The Leonids are debris from a wandering comet that appear as shooting stars each November. They often provide one of the best shows of the year, if the skies are clear and the moon is not full.
This year promises a stellar show if clear skies hold because the moon is almost new.
Peak Leonid viewing should occur early Tuesday, November 17, around 1 a.m. PST. There are expected to be fine shows for hours, and even days before and after that.
Just before dawn is generally a good time to catch some shooting stars, especially because Leonids generate from the constellation Leo, which is visible in the east before dawn.
You won't need any special equipment to see the Leonids. The naked eye is actually best. If possible, get to a high spot, away from city lights. A backyard or front porch can work just as well. Just be sure to give your eyes some time to adjust to the dark. So bundle up, get a comfortable chair, and hope for a good show!
For more info: Visit this NASA web site.
Comments
I live up in northern Minnesota, there is little light polution here and every year I have had an amazing view of the leonids showers! I decided to setup a couple cameras with live feeds to share my view with others. If you're interested you can check it out at my website here: www.tinyurl.com/watch-leonid-meteor-live
Hi Randy! Great to see you. Wonderful video! Lucky you to have clear, dark viewing of the night sky. We've had some wonderful Leonid years here. This one was not great, at least from my vantage point. One long, dramatic shooting star arced overhead on Tues. morning. Last night, we saw about six shorter meteors. It's always fun, though, to get out with the family and watch the cosmos, especially when something like a meteor shower might happen.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!