Leonid Meteor Shower

megman · Post by **megman** » 11-16-2009 11:10 AM

The Leonid meteor shower peaks this year on Nov. 17th. The shower begins on Tuesday morning around 0900 UT (4 a.m. EST; 1 a.m. PST) with a sprinkling of 20 to 30 meteors per hour over North America. The new Moon provides ideally dark conditions for viewing this initial flurry. The best place to be, however, is Asia, where forecasters expect as many as 300 Leonids per hour. The predicted outburst occurs between 2100 - 2200 UT, just before local dawn in that part of the world:

megman · Post by **megman** » 11-16-2009 10:40 PM

Amazing the interest that has been lost in this........

vigo · Post by **vigo** » 11-17-2009 02:59 AM

I always try to check out every shower unless the conditions are against it. This time I'm fighting a bug.

I have a couple of great chairs that goes back into complete recline. That and a hot drink and I'm usually just fine. I'll have to wait for the next one.

Thanks for posting the thread.

Post by **Linnea** » 11-17-2009 03:59 AM

We are so socked in with clouds and rain here in the NW - no chance of even a glimpse this year.

I'm sure Spike Mike will be watching, if the Texas skies are clear. And you're right. Seems there is not much interest - at least in discussion - of astronomy these days.

Joolz · Post by **Joolz** » 11-17-2009 04:36 AM

We have clear skies, and are on the outer edge of the city, but still not sure I can see anything because of the city lights. Will go check, though, and will report back if I see anything.

Live365 · Post by **Live365** » 11-17-2009 11:03 AM

megman wrote: Amazing the interest that has been lost in this........

Megman, I've just pretty much given up. Either you have to go out in the middle of the country at three in the morning in below zero weather, or it's cloudy. Or both. I haven't seen a decent meteor shower since I was seen years old. It also seems that in recent years -- and this is where my cynicism comes in -- they tend to over-hype it; "conditions are perfect", "there's a new moon", "best one yet"... but it never is. But fortunately, showers aren't a once-in-a-lifetime event. You get plenty of other chances. Hopefully I'll take advantage of one of them someday!