The month of November is best known for the year’s most brilliant meteor showers, i.e. the Leonid meteor shower, which are also known as the Leonids. The Leonids are they year’s one of the last meteor showers, which is followed by the Geminids meteor shower in the month of December.
According to the astronomers, Leonids will be best viewed between November 17 and 18 this year from the midnight hours to dawn. During the mentioned period, about 15 meteors per hour are expected to be visible for the observers. To make it more clear, the sky gazers can watch the spectacular celestial event for about one meteor every 4 minutes. Scientists further recommend the enthusiasts to get away from the city lights and find a place where clear sky and stars are visible in order to have a best view of the meteor shower.
The astronomers also suggest the observers to watch at the part of the sky between the East horizon and the point which is located right above in order to have the best view of Leonids.
These meteor showers became prominent mainly during the 17th century. Leonids were known for their incredible show of shooting stars that offer the space gazers with a delightful sight. In the year 1833, the most impressive part of the meteor shower of shooting stars was the display of up to 100 thousand meteor per hour.
The space experts say even if the Leonid meteor shower of November this year will not be as appealing and spectacular as that of 1833, it will definitely be a site worth watching.
Those who fail to have a glimpse of the celestial event can have it on the NASA’s webcast that begins at 4:30 pm. It will also include a telescope view from the US space agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.
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