Leonid Alert

[Dover]

The Leonid Meteor Shower 2004: Modest Peak Expected Nov. 16-19

By Joe Rao
SPACE.com Night Sky Columnist
posted: 12 November, 2004
6:30 a.m. ET



Next week brings us the return of the famous Leonid Meteor Shower, a meteor display that over the past several years has brought great anticipation and excitement to sky watchers around the world.

Solely from the standpoint of viewing circumstances, this will be a favorable year to look for these meteors, since the Moon will be only a thin crescent and will have set in the west long before the constellation Leo (from where the meteors get their name) begins to rise. This is in stark contrast to 2002 when a nearly full Moon lit up the sky like a spotlight and wiped out all but the brightest meteors.

Last year, conditions were much better; the Moon had slimmed to a narrow crescent in the predawn morning sky and offered little hindrance. But this year, the Moon will be out of the sky completely, offering perfect viewing conditions.

The Leonid meteors are debris shed into space by the Tempel-Tuttle comet, which swings through the inner solar system at intervals of 33 years. With each visit the comet leaves behind a trail of dust in its wake....cont'd

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/041112_leonid_meteors.html

[GATOR MONROE]

1. up here in shasta county...

nor-cal mtns. these are fun, and we.. ....sea nix that, we see the spy sats fly by too.