Leonids Meteor Shower 2009

[Emi Chan]

November 17 around 1:30am EST (sunrise) should be a pretty spectacular sight for the Leonid's shower. Will anyone try to take in this event? It seems the conditions are going to be fairly decent for anyone viewing this tonight in North America. With more than 70% of the U.S. experiencing clear skies and also 1% crescent moon during our new moon phase it may be well worth braving the cold weather to view ^.^ NASA is estimating over a hundred bombardments on the Earth’s atmosphere per-hour but with Leonid's high unpredictability rate we can see numbers spike far beyond 100 with the right set of conditions and see a nice continuous stream that should look very nice. These showers are always worth viewing and very impressive and I see them every year and they have yet to let me down. ^.^ Here are a few meteor shower viewing tips that some may find helpful. If you live near a brightly lit city, drive away from the glow of city lights and toward the constellation from which the meteors will appear to radiate. For example, drive north to view the Leonids. Driving south may lead you to darker skies, but the glow will dominate the northern horizon, where Leo rises. Perseid meteors will appear to "rain" into the atmosphere from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast around 11 p.m. in mid-August. After you've escaped the city glow, find a dark, secluded spot where oncoming car headlights will not periodically ruin your sensitive night vision. Look for state or city parks or other safe, dark sites. Once you have settled at your observing spot, lay back or position yourself so the horizon appears at the edge of your peripheral vision, with the stars and sky filling your field of view. Meteors will instantly grab your attention as they streak by. The best way to view If you can see each star of the Little Dipper, your eyes have "dark adapted," and your chosen site is probably dark enough. Under these conditions, you will see plenty of meteors. What to bring. Treat meteor watching like you would the 4th of July fireworks. Pack comfortable chairs, bug spray, food and drinks, blankets, plus a red-filtered flashlight for reading maps and charts without ruining your night vision. Binoculars are not necessary. Your eyes will do just fine. For those who will view, happy shower watching ^.^