A Leonid fireball captured over Sweden in 2015.
Spaceweather.com/Andre Pooschke
Say what you will about the perils of 2020. It’s been a dazzling year for skywatchers, with bright comets and plentiful meteor showers that continue this month with the appearance of the annual Leonids, lasting through the end of November.
The Leonids can be traced back to the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle and they’ve put on some real shows over the centuries in the form of intense meteor storms that produce hundreds of visible meteors per hour.
The American Meteor Society says it’s unlikely we’ll see such a storm in our lifetimes (the most recent was in 2001), although 2030 might see a minor storm. This year, the Leonids do offer the opportunity to see up to 15 meteors per hour. The shower peaked on Tuesday, Nov. 17, but it remains active until Monday, Nov. 30, so you might still be able to see a handful per hour with some luck. The Leonids tend to be pretty bright, with some persistent trains.
To catch any Leonids, the best strategy is to venture out in the early morning/predawn hours as close to the showers’ respective peaks as possible. Remove yourself from light pollution if you can, dress appropriately and find a comfortable place to lay back with a clear, wide view of the sky.
Next, relax, let your eyes adjust, and just watch. It’s not necessary to focus on a particular area of the sky, but if you can spot the constellation Leo, the Leonids will appear to originate from that part of the sky and streak outward like spokes on a wheel. Also keep an eye open for a bright Taurid fireball, as the Northern Taurids are also active.
Enjoy a little fire in the sky. And pass along any epic fireball photos you happen to catch; on Twitter, I’m @EricCMack.
