Leonid Meteor Shower - next week

Krin52


Joined: 25/08/2008
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
09/11/2009 22:01

The next meteor shower is the Leonids on November 17-18, 2009.



Astronomers from Caltech and NASA estimate the strength of the coming display: five hundred or more Leonids per hour during a few-hour peak centered on 21:43 UT.



The Leonids are created by bits of debris left behind by the repeat passages through the inner solar system of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. There are several streams. In 2008, Earth passed through one laid down in the year 1466 and observers in Asia and Europe counted as many as 100 meteors per hour, according to a NASA statement today. That shows the 1466 stream is rich in meteor-producing debris. And in 2009, our planet will pass through this stream again, but this time closer to its center, where more material should be there to slam into our atmosphere. The Moon will be just past new, so it won't interfere with the shower.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
09/11/2009 23:05

Krin



Very interesting but will we be able to see this from NC and at what time (local time).



Many thanks



Paul

Krin52


Joined: 25/08/2008
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
10/11/2009 08:38

Paul, That I don't know as all the information I can find is US/UK based



UT is Universal Time so 21:30 is 23:30 here. I guess I'll just be laying out on the terrace waiting to see!