If you’re an amateur astronomer or a fan of all things celestial and missed last month’s meteor showers, we have good news for you. Because after the Draconids at the beginning of October and the Oronids at the end of the same month, it’s time for the Leonids to shine in the autumn night sky.
What are the Leonids?
Contrary to what the name might suggest, the Leonids are neither stars nor named after the famous King Leonidas of Sparta – although the name is certainly of Greek origin.
This meteor shower is formed from the remains of the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which leaves behind pieces of dust or ice on its orbit around the sun. Every time the Earth moves through the meteorite stream of this comet, these particles enter the atmosphere at high speed. In fact, the speed is so high – up to 72 km/s or 259200 km/h – that they light up on contact with the air. The vast majority even burn up completely before they touch the ground.
The name of these meteorites comes from their radiant in the constellation Leo. In other words, the meteorites appear to radiate from the stars of Leo. Aside from their catchy name, the Leonids are also known for the spectacular meteor storms that occur approximately every 33 years – although unfortunately this year will not be one of them.
When they can be observed
Be that as it may, the shooting stars have already begun to fall into the Earth’s atmosphere. Our planet has been moving through the meteor stream of comet Tempel-Tuttle since November 6 and will continue to do so until November 30. However, the peak of the Leonids will occur on the night of November 16-17.
The bad news is that we will have to be very lucky and patient again this year to catch a glimpse of them: Their clearest moment in our field of vision coincides with the presence of the next full moon. In addition, the debris cloud of the Tempel-Tuttle comet has dispersed very widely over the decades, which is why the stream normally only shows a weak maximum.
However, the larger particles of the Leonids can precipitate into brighter meteors than usual. These so-called “fireballs” rival the brightest stars and planets in luminosity, including – albeit less frequently – the Moon. So there is still a small glimmer of hope.
The last meteor shower of 2021
Even if we’re unlucky and don’t get to see much of the Leonids, there’s one more meteor shower before 2021 comes to an end. The Geminids will sparkle in the night sky between December 7 and 17. This meteor shower is different from the others because the particles that enter the Earth’s atmosphere have not come loose from a comet, but from an asteroid. They are also the strongest meteor shower of the year.
In any case, it’s time to dress warmly and find a cozy and dark place for the next astronomical event.