Meteors of November

November 12, 4:44 PMSt. Louis Astronomy ExaminerGary Kronk

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If there was ever such a thing as a teaching meteor shower, the Leonids would be it, because astronomers have learned more from this shower than from any other meteor shower. Yet, the Leonids are not observable annually like some meteor showers. What makes them special is their occasional tendency to produce exceptionally large numbers of meteors.

The Leonids were officially discovered during 1833, but before going into the details, there is something that needs to be pointed out concerning the state of meteor science at that time. It was in its infancy, as systematic observations had only begun in the 1820's and astronomers in Europe and the United States had identified several regions of the sky from which meteors seemed to radiant from during certain times of the year. That was it. Of course, there were historical accounts stretching back more than 2000 years that recorded occasional meteor showers, but the recognition that some meteor showers could occur annually or periodically was just beginning to surface.

So, not long after sunset on the evening of November 12, 1833, people were going about their business along the East Coast of the United States. Some were beginning to notice an unusual number of meteors crossing the sky. The numbers picked up after midnight and then, during the four hours prior to dawn, the skies opened up. Several astronomers estimated that meteors were falling at a rate of about a thousand a minute! Newspapers of the time reveal that almost no one was left unaware of the spectacle, for if they were not awakened by the cries of excited neighbors, they were usually awakened by flashes of light cast into normally dark bedrooms by the fireballs.

Although an early analysis indicated the display was not seen west of Ohio, later publications revealed the meteors were seen by numerous Native America tribes in the western half of the United States, who recorded the event as "the night the stars fell."

From several of the calmer reports published in the days, weeks, and months that followed, it was realized that meteors were falling all around the sky, but appeared to be coming from the constellation Leo. Observers claimed that looking at Leo gave the sudden feeling that they were rushing through the stars. This is now recognized as the actual spot in the sky from which the meteors emanated. This was important because astronomers then recognized that the Leonid meteors moved in an orbit around the sun, which led to them being linked to periodic comet Tempel-Tuttle, which led to the realization that the Leonid meteors were actually dust particles ejected from this comet. Astronomers also know that strong displays of the Leonids occur about every 33 years and that such displays were likely observed from the Middle East and Italy as long ago as AD 901 and 902. [You can read more about the history of the Leonids here.]

The Leonids are always best observed during the morning hours preceding the beginning of twilight. For 2009, the best mornings will be on November 17 and 18. Although the normal rate is about 10-15 meteors per hour, astronomers are predicting a probable outburst in activity this year. For observers in Asia, this outburst could amount to several hundred meteors per hour. It is uncertain what observers in other parts of the world are likely to see. The Leonids are among the fastest meteors that can be seen and the result is meteors that can be rather bright. It is not unusual for the Leonids to occasionally produce a meteor that can explode with enough light to illuminate the landscape.

As with all meteor showers, it is best to observe by lying in a reclining lawn chair, so that you can look straight up. Try to get away from lights, buildings, and trees so that you can see as much of the sky as possible. For this time of year, you certainly want to dress warmly and, if you plan on staying out for an hour or more, you might think about bringing a thermos with hot coffee or hot cocoa to help keep you warm.