Filipinos can catch a glimpse of shooting stars tonight, November 17, until the early hours of November 18, according to the Philippines weather bureau. PAG-ASA said that these shooting stars are actually meteors that form part of the annual Leonid meteor shower.
Five Things to Know About the Leonid Meteor Shower
During mid-November, the Leonid meteor shower appears in the nighttime sky. According to Space.com, this yearly occurrence is responsible for some of the “most intense meteor storms in history.” In one such case, as many as 50,000 meteors per hour streaked through the sky. Here are five facts about the Leonids.
- The Leonids come from the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which rounds the Sun every 33 years. When the comet passes across the Earth’s orbit, it leaves a “trail of debris,” which enters the atmosphere and appear as shooting stars.
- These meteors will never hit the ground. According to Space.com, the Leonid meteors are so small (sand grain size) that they will heat up and generate light. As soon as they light up, they vaporize.
- According to Space.com, if you know how to listen, you can hear the Leonids as they enter the atmosphere. They create electrophonic sounds, which can be caught if one knows how to listen.
- The Leonids are the fastest meteors around. This is so because the materials from the comet approach the Earth in the opposite direction. When it hits the atmosphere, it comes in at more than 160,000 miles per hour or 72 kilometers per second.
- Unlike most astronomical phenomenon, the Leonids can be seen by the naked eye. No special equipment required.
Leonid Meteor Shower: When and Where to Watch
Astronomers however warned that this year’s shower may not be as spectacular as the previous ones. According to a NASA expert cited by Space.com, no “outburst” will happen this year, so the rates will likely be 10 to 15 comets per hour, to as many as 20.
According to the Sun UK, another impediment to getting a good view may be the full moon. Because of the recent supermoon phenomenon, it may be difficult to see the meteors unless one stays out late.
The best time to watch the shower is between midnight November 17 and dawn the next day. According to astronomers, the best vantage point is lying down on the ground.
Both the Sun UK and Space.com however offer another option for catching the Leonids – via a live webcast. Through the Slooh Community Observatory, the public can watch the meteor shower as it happens. The webcast starts November 17 1:00 a.m. GMT or 9:00 a.m. Philippine time.
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