Space1 min(s) read
Published 16:56 16 Nov 2020 GMT
The stunning Leonid meteor shower will be lighting up the sky tonight, November 16-17, according to Earth Sky.
According to the website, it is anticipated that roughly 10 to 15 shooting stars an hour will be visible very early on Tuesday, November 17.
This striking display has been known to produce the most gorgeous meteor showers. Back in 2001, an incredible Leonid storm occurred, with thousands of meteors coming down over North America and Hawaii.
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Reporting on the spectacular event from 2001, Spaceweather.com wrote:
"The display began on Sunday morning, November 18, when Earth glided into a dust cloud shed by Comet Tempel-Tuttle in 1766. Thousands of meteors per hour rained over North America and Hawaii.
"Then, on Monday morning November 19 (local time in Asia), it happened again: Earth entered a second cometary debris cloud from Tempel-Tuttle. Thousands more Leonids then fell over east Asian countries and Australia."
While it has not been predicted that a Leonid storm, which usually only takes place every 33 years, will occur this year, there will be a great deal for stargazers to look out for.
Indeed, the Moon, which is currently in the waxing crescent phase, is expected to set early in the evening.
The absence of the Moon should make for the most ideal conditions for stargazers to observe the magnificent spectacle after 12:00 am. It is around this time that the majority of meteors fall.
As a result, you should be able to catch sight of shooting stars that would typically be obscured by the brilliance of the Moon.
The name "Leonid" derives from the constellation Leo, the lion, where its meteors come from.
But luckily, you won't have to look in the direction of the constellation to spot the display, as it will be visible across the night sky.
Per Space.com, this yearly November shower takes place when Planet Earth's orbit crosses Comet Tempel-Tuttle's orbit, which makes its way around the Sun every 33.3 years.
This comet will leave behind a trail of debris and when Earth's orbit crosses the trail, comet pieces will come down towards the Earth’s surface.
