The Leonid Meteor Shower.

Each year between 6 and 30 November (approximately) the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, with peak activity this year expected before dawn on Saturday 18 November. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

The radiant point (apparent point of origin) of the Leonid Meteors. NASA.

Meteor streams are thought to come from dust shed by comets as they come close to the Sun and their icy surfaces begin to evaporate away. Although the dust is separated from the comet, it continues to orbit the Sun on roughly the same orbital path, creating a visible meteor shower when the Earth crosses that path, and flecks of dust burn in the upper atmosphere, due to friction with the atmosphere.

The Earth passing through a stream of comet dust, resulting in a meteor shower. Not to scale. Astro Bob.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

How the passage of the Earth through a meteor shower creates a radiant point from which they can be observed. In The Sky.

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet, and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

The orbit and current position of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. JPL Small Body Database.

Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle was discovered in December 1865 by German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel, and independently in January 1866 by the American Horace Parnell Tuttle. The designation 55/P implies that it is a Periodic Comet (comet with an orbital period of less than 200 years), and that it was the 55th such body discovered. As a Comet with a Period of less than 200 years and more than 20 years it is also regarded as a Halley-type Comet.

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The Leonid Meteors.

Each year between 6 and 30 November (approximately) the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, one of the more spectacular of the annual meteor showers, with peak activity this year expected before dawn on Monday 18 November. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

 The radiant point (apparent point of origin) of the Leonid Meteors. Greg Smye-Rumsby/Astronomy Now.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

 The orbit and current position of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The Sky Live 3D Solar System Simulator.

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet, and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

Image of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle taken on 31 January 1998, 60 second exposure. Martin Mobberley.

Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle was discovered in December 1865 by German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel, and independently in January 1866 by the American Horace Parnell Tuttle. The designation 55/P implies that it is a Periodic Comet (comet with an orbital period of less than 200 years), and that it was the 55th such body discovered. As a Comet with a Period of less than 200 years and more than 20 years it is also regarded as a Halley-type Comet.

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The Leonid Meteor Shower.

Each year between 15 and 18 November (approximately), typically peaking between midnight and dawn on 17 November, the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, one of the more spectacular of the annual meteor showers, though with the waxing quarter Moon falling on 15 November this year viewing will be slightly less than optimal. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

The radiant point (apparent point of origin) of the Leonid Meteors. Bronberg Weather Station.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

 The orbit and current position of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The Sky Live 3D Solar System Simulator.

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet, and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

 Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle imaged on 26 January 1998. Image is a composite of several stacked images, with the dotted lines being stars that have moved between exposures. Nick James/The Astronomer.

Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle was discovered in December 1865 by German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel, and independently in January 1866 by the American Horace Parnell Tuttle. The designation 55/P implies that it is a Periodic Comet (comet with an orbital period of less than 200 years), and that it was the 55th such body discovered. As a Comet with a Period of less than 200 years and more than 20 years it is also regarded as a Halley-type Comet.

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The Leonid Meteors.

Each year between 15 and 18 November (approximately), typically peaking between midnight and dawn on 17 November, the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, one of the more spectacular of the annual meteor showers, and viewing could be good this year as the shower peaks just before the New Moon on 18 November. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

The radiant point (apparent point of origin) of the Leonid Meteors. Space.com.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

 Image of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle taken in February 1998 from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Cometography.

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet, and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle was discovered in December 1865 by German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel, and independently in January 1866 by the American Horace Parnell Tuttle. The designation 55/P implies that it is a Periodic Comet (comet with an orbital period of less than 200 years), and that it was the 55th such body discovered. As a Comet with a Period of less than 200 years and more than 20 years it is also regarded as a Halley-type Comet.

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Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

The Leonid Meteors.

Each year between 15 and 18 November (approximately), typically peaking between midnight and dawn on 17 November, the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, one of the more spectacular of the annual meteor showers, although it is likely to be a poor show this year as both the closest lunar perigee of the last five decades (i.e. the point at which the Moon is closest to the Earth fot the last five decades) and the full Moon fall on Monday 14 November this yeat. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

The radiant point (apparent point of origin) of the Leonid Meteors in 2016. Astro Bob/Stellarium.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet, and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

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Leonid Meteor Shower falls this week.

Each year between 15 and 18 November (approximately), typically peaking between midnight and dawn on 18 November, the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, one of the more spectacular of the annual meteor showers. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

 The radiant point (apparent point of origin) of the Leonid Meteors in 2015. Note the position of Jupiter, which will be close to the radiant this month. EarthSky.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

 The orbit and current position of 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. JPL Small-Body Database Browser.

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet, and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

See also...

Bright fireball over Saskatchewan and Manitoba.                                                   Many people have reported seeing a bright fireball over parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba at about 8.40 pm local tine on Sunday 8 November 2015. A fireball is defined as a meteor (shooting star)...

Fireball over northern Europe.           Eyewitnesses across much of northern Europe reported seeing a bright fireball in the sky moving southwest to northeast at about 6.05 pm GMT on Saturday 31 October 2015. The event was seen from the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, southern...

The 2015 Perseid Meteors.                              The Perseid Meteor shower lasts from late July to early September each year, and are expected to be at a peak on 12-13 August 2015, which falling slightly before the...

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The Leonid Meteors.

Each year between 15 and 18 November (approximately) the the Earth encounters the Leonid Meteors, one of the more spectacular of the annual meteor showers. Unlike most such showers, which are essentially composed of dust particles, the Leonids comprise particles of up to 8 mm across and up to 85 g in mass, leading to some spectacular fireballs, and each year the shower is thought to deposit 12-13 tonnes of material on the Earth. The Leonid Meteor Shower is so called because the meteors they appear to originate in the constellation of Leo. (Note a meteor is a 'shooting star', a piece of material visibly burning up in the atmosphere and detectable via the light it produces when doing this; a meteorite is a piece of rock that has fallen from the sky and which a geologist can physically hold; and an asteroid is a chunk of rock in orbit about the Sun, to small to be regarded as a planet.

The point of origin of the Leonid Meteors. Astro Bob.

The Leonid Meteors are thought to originate from the tail of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 33 years, on an orbit that brings it slightly within the orbit of the Earth then out to slightly beyond the orbit of Uranus. Comets are composed largely of ice (mostly water and carbon dioxide), and when they fall into the inner Solar System the outer layers of this boil away, forming a visible tail (which always points away from the Sun, not in the direction the comet is coming from, as our Earth-bound experience would lead us to expect). Particles of rock and dust from within the comet are freed by this melting (strictly sublimation) of the comet into the tail and continue to orbit in the same path as the comet, falling behind over time. 

The orbit of 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. Image created using the JPL Small-Body Database Browser.

The material in the meteor shower is densest close behind the comet (obviously), and, since Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle has a 33 year orbit, the Leonid Meteor Shower has a 33-year cycle, with a particularly spectacular display every thirty-third year, then a gradual decline in meteor number till the end of the cycle. The last such peak year was in 1998.

See also Four more asteroids found to be co-orbitals of Neptune, Asteroid 2012 TC4 passes within 95 000 km of the Earth, Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) to pass within 60 000 000 km of the Earth, Asteroid 2002 AM₃₁ flies past the Earth and 2012 LZ1; bigger than we thought.

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