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In the early hours of tomorrow, the Leonid meteor shower will send shooting stars into the sky.
In Australia, rain will be most visible after midnight, but the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted that there will be no “meteor storm” – which occurs when 1000 meteors are seen per hour.
The last Leonid meteor storm was in 2001.
The tiny comet Tempel-Tuttle, the parent body of the Leonids, will traverse Earth’s orbit, creating a steaming rain of debris into the atmosphere.
The comet takes 33 years to complete one orbit of the sun.
The meteor shower is named after the constellation Leo the Lion, as the meteors will come from the stars that make up the lion’s mane.
But it is not necessary to look in the direction of the constellation, because meteors will appear all over the sky.
Bright meteors can also be colorful and are fast, moving at 70 kilometers per second, among the fastest meteors.
Fireballs and “earthgrazer” meteors are also a hallmark of the Leonid shower. Fireballs are brighter and larger and can last longer than the average meteor, while the pastures of the earth appear close to the horizon with long, colorful tails.
The Leonid meteor shower overlaps with the Northern Taurid meteor shower, so some meteors from that rain may also be visible.
Northern Taurids are also known for their fireballs, meaning if you see a fireball or two it may have originated from that shower.
Light pollution from cities can obstruct your view, so drive to a quieter place with fewer lights.
Find an open area with a wide view of the sky and don’t forget to wrap around.
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