Leonidas meteor shower peaks this week; knowing how to observe

Leonidas meteor shower, one of the most unpredictable, is visible this week – in fact, until the 30th of this month. Its peak came at dawn on Tuesday (17), but the show continues to happen at dawn on Wednesday (18), with residual meteors appearing on subsequent nights as well. During peak hours, Leonidas can carry 10 to 20 “shooting stars” per hour. It’s a reasonable amount, and while it’s not an exceptionally high rate, night conditions can help, as the moon’s brightness won’t get in the way.

In addition, this is one of the most dazzling rains, and there may also be “fireballs” – brighter and larger meteors, with a longer duration than normal. They can also reach high speeds, moving very fast, reaching 70 km / h.

Where did Leonidas meteors come from?

The Leonidas meteor shower is associated with the passage of comet 55P / Tempel-Tuttle, which takes 33 years to complete a circle around the Sun. The name of the comet comes from the two astronomers who discovered it, at different times and independently: Ernst Tempel and Horace Parnell Tuttle, who observed the celestial body in 1865 and 1866 respectively.

As with all meteor showers associated with comets, Leonidas is the result of Tempel-Tuttle debris. Every 33 years it crosses the Earth’s orbit leaving numerous traces, released when it approaches the Sun, and every year our planet crosses this trail of “cosmic dirt”. When this happens, some small debris ends up entering our atmosphere.

Also, as with other rains, Leônidas borrows its name from a constellation. In this case, the constellation of Leo, since its radiant is in these stars, that is, the meteors will always seem to leave that point in the sky.

This rain becomes particularly spectacular every 33 of the 33 years, such as when Comet Tempel-Tuttle approaches Earth. On these occasions it can create a real “shooting star” storm. In 1799, 1833, 1866, 1966 and 1998, for example, Leônidas supplied the rain with thousands of meteors. However, it is difficult to predict when a storm like this will occur, even though you know there could be a higher rate every three decades or so.

How to observe Leonidas meteor shower

The constellation Leo will appear in the night sky around 1:30 or 2:00, depending on your location. Therefore, the best time to observe the meteor shower is from 2 am onwards, as the radiant one moves from south-east to west, tracing an arc without going up much towards the zenith (the point of the sky that is exactly above the observer’s head).

No special equipment is needed to observe rain, as meteors are very visible to the naked eye. It will also not be necessary to look directly at the radiant, as the meteors may appear further away, although apparently always from Leo.

However, the brightness of the city can hinder observation. Therefore, if possible, go to a more remote location, respecting the precautions against COVID-19. It is also necessary that the sky is free of clouds and fog.

Meteor showers can vary during peak hours, with some peaks for only a few hours and others for several nights. With the unpredictable Leonidas, it will be no different, so don’t be discouraged and prepare to spend a few hours looking up at the sky, without rushing to leave – it’s the kind of experience that stays in your memory!

Source: The Guardian, Space.com, New York Times