Leonids Meteor Shower

The Leonids Meteor Shower happens during the month of November. They occur when the Earth encounters debris left from comet Tempel-Tuttle and have been described as "the cosmic equivalent of bugs hitting the windshield of an automobile." However in the case of the meteor shower, the vehicle is the Earth on its journey around the Sun, and the bugs are tiny sand-grain-sized particles traveling at speeds of over 140,000 miles per hour. When these particles are vaporized in the Earth's atmosphere, we observe the heat and light associated with the streaking particle as a meteor blazing across the sky.

Comet Tempel-Tuttle enters the inner solar system every 33 years, each time leaving behind a fresh trail of dust and debris. When the Earth encounters such a trail of debris, we can observe a meteor shower or storm. Over time, a given debris stream from the comet will lengthen, but remains fairly narrow and dense. Thus we can see episodes of increased Leonids activity not only in the year when the comet makes its swing into the inner solar system, but also for several years around this point in time. Typiclly, the debris stream that produce each year's meteor shower is actually 100 years old.

Like other meteor showers, the Leonids Meteor Shower is named after the constellation from which it first appeared to have come, Leo.

How Do I View the Leonids Meteor Shower?

Meteor showers are easier to view than many other astronomical objects or events. All you need is a fairly dark location and a blanket or lawn chair. It may be useful to have a skymap to help you locate Leo, and other constellations while you’re watching, but it’s not a necessity.

To find the best days to see the Leonids Meteor Shower visit our Astronomical Events Calendar. The best viewing time varies, but is often between 2:00AM and 4:00AM. Arrive early to set up, and to give yourself time to adjust your eyes to the darkness. Then, just sit (or lie) back, relax, and enjoy the show.