Annual Leonids meteor shower set to reach peak
Source: (bbc.co.uk)
The annual Leonids meteor shower is set to reach its peak.
The tiny high-speed particles come from the tail of Comet 55 P/Tempel-Tuttle, which was last in the vicinity of the Earth in 1998.
To the eye, the meteors appear to originate from a point in the constellation Leo.
This year, astronomers predict a strong peak of activity in the shower, with the best views from Asia.
On this continent, astronomers may be able to see as many as 500 meteors per hour.
If the Leonid peak lasts longer than predicted, it may be possible to see the end of it from Europe.
North American observers may be able to view the shower from the early hours of the morning until dawn.
A second, more intense outburst of Leonids may happen about 12 hours later, during the early morning hours of 18 November in Asia.
This article is from the BBC News website.
Filed Under: Science & Nature