The Leonid meteor shower peaks next week. Here's what to expect
The Leonid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated annual celestial events, will soon reach its pinnacle for North America on Tuesday morning, November 18th. This year, the Leonids are expected to put on a show, but it might not be as spectacular as previous years.
A Meteor Shower's Tale
The Leonids are known for their breathtaking displays, with meteor storms observed in 1799, 1833, and 1966, where tens of thousands of meteors per hour lit up the night sky. More recently, in 1999, 2001, and 2002, the Leonids put on a show with a few thousand meteors per hour. But what makes them so special?
Comet Tempel-Tuttle's Trail
The Leonids are the result of the periodic comet Tempel-Tuttle, which sweeps through the inner solar system every 33 and a third years. As it approaches the sun, it leaves a trail of dusty debris, and when Earth passes through this trail, a meteor shower occurs. The 'lion's share' of comet dust is found ahead and trailing Tempel-Tuttle, and the last time it passed through was in 1998, leading to the spectacular displays in the early 2000s.
2025: A Year of Slimmer Pickings
In 2025, the Leonids are expected to be less active. According to Mikhail Maslov, a renowned Russian expert, the peak activity will be around 15 meteors per hour from 18:00 UT on November 17th to 00:00 UT on November 18th, favoring central and eastern Asia. For North America, the best viewing time will be before dawn on the 18th, but the Leonids will likely only produce 5 to 10 meteors per hour.
Moon's Interference
The moon, just a narrow crescent, will not interfere with the show. However, Leonids move across your line of sight every 6 to 12 minutes, so a clear, dark sky is essential.
Observing the Leonids
Watching a meteor shower is simple: lie back, look up, and wait. Local light pollution and obstructions can reduce your chances of spotting meteors. For the best viewing, focus on Leo after midnight, as the constellation starts to come into view. As dawn approaches, The Sickle will be two-thirds of the way up from the southeast horizon to the zenith.
Fast and Bright
The Leonids travel at 45 miles per second, resulting in fast and bright meteors that leave long trails. However, due to the current dust trail, the number of bright meteors is expected to be limited this year.
Looking Ahead
The good news is that the Leonids will improve as Comet Tempel-Tuttle gets closer to the sun. The best years of the next cycle are predicted for 2034 and 2035, with hourly rates of hundreds of meteors. But if you can't wait, the December Geminids, a more prolific shower, peak in less than a month, producing over 100 meteors per hour.
Stay tuned for more celestial wonders!
