Stargazers are in for a treat with the peak of the Leonid meteor shower right around the corner.
When is the Leonid meteor shower?
The Leonid meteor shower will peak on Nov. 17-18 with around 15 meteors per hour, according to The Planetary Society. The Leonids have been active since Nov. 3 and will stay active until Dec. 2. The shower will be best visible in the early morning hours of Nov. 17-18.
What is the Leonid meteor shower?
The Leonids meteor shower is caused by the debris left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.
What is a meteor?
A meteor, also referred to as a shooting or falling star, is a streak of light caused by meteoroids entering the Earth’s atmosphere, according to National Geographic.
A meteoroid is often composed of space rocks and iron and is caused by asteroid collisions and comets. Upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere, meteoroids heat up which causes surrounding gases to glow, creating a meteor.
Meteors were given the nickname shooting stars due to their bright, vibrant tail as they flew through the sky. Meteors typically occur in the mesosphere, around 30 to 50 miles from Earth’s surface.
What is a meteor shower?
Meteor showers are heightened periods of activity where multiple meteors are visible from one point in the sky, according to the American Meteor Society.
When the Earth passes through regions with high levels of interplanetary debris from comets or asteroids, showers are likely. They often appear during a particular time of the year from the same point in the sky.
Daisy Hips is a science communicator who brings the wonders of the natural world to readers. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to environmental conservation. Daisy is also an advocate for science education and enjoys stargazing in her spare time.
