A swarm of fireballs from the Taurid meteor bathe has already made November a fiery month for meteors. The arrival of the Leonids this week might carry an all-out meteor storm.
Whereas the Taurids are recognized for touring comparatively slowly as they dissipate within the ambiance and producing numerous fireballs (particularly this 12 months), the Leonids are thought-about a swift bathe, producing quick, vivid taking pictures stars.
Just a few occasions each century, the Leonids ship an absolute frenzy of fireplace within the sky, with tons of and even hundreds of taking pictures stars seen per hour.
The trigger is bits of mud, particles and detritus from Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Annually round this time our planet drifts via clouds of comet droppings left behind throughout earlier journeys via the photo voltaic system. And about each 33 years we appear to hit a very dense pocket of matter, leading to such a storm. This occurred most not too long ago in 2001, which was a little bit of a bonus because it got here simply two years after an anticipated storm in 1999.
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Whereas the following Leonid meteor storm from that department of particles is not anticipated till 2031, these items are unpredictable. In keeping with the American Meteor Society, there’s a probability we’ll encounter a distinct mud subject in 2022 linked to the comet’s 1733 go to. This might produce wherever between 50 and greater than 200 meteors per hour within the waning hours of Nov. 18 into the next morning.
Once more, there aren’t any ensures for any of this as meteor showers are exceedingly fickle. However the most effective case situation might current just a few excellent nights of sky-watching. The common peak of the Leonids is anticipated within the late night hours of Nov. 17 into the pre-dawn the next morning. Anticipate 10 to fifteen meteors per hour beneath best viewing circumstances. The next night time is once we may get an outburst that sees these numbers improve by an order of magnitude, if we’re fortunate.
To expertise the spectacle, you will need to discover an space with a broad view of a cloudless sky and no gentle air pollution. You will discover the constellation Leo utilizing an app like Stellarium and orient your self so Leo’s head is within the middle of your subject of view. Leonid meteors will seem to radiate out from this level within the sky, therefore the title.
It isn’t crucial you orient your self this manner, because the meteors can be traversing all around the sky, but it surely may improve issues. It is most likely a bit extra necessary to maintain the waning moon out of your subject of view in order that it would not wash out any taking pictures stars.
When you’re oriented and cozy, simply lay again and calm down. After your eyes are adjusted, you need to be in your approach to seeing a minimum of just a few meteors when you give the entire expertise a full hour or longer.
Better of luck and joyful recognizing!
