(Info from Yahoo News)
The Leonid meteor shower of 2010 is peaking this week and the best time to see the sky show is now.
This annual meteor shower should be at their best through Nov. 18, according to skywatching experts. Avid meteor gazers graced with clear skies may see between 15 and 20 meteors per hour. That’s a lot of wishes to make!
This sky map shows where to look to see "shooting stars" from the Leonids this week. The best time to try to see them are in the last two or three hours before sunrise, when the moon has set.
"From the time of moonset until around 5:15 a.m. – when the first streaks of dawn begin to appear in the east Ñ the sky will be dark and moonless," advises Joe Rao, SPACE.com skywatching columnist. "That interval will provide you with your best opportunity to see any Leonid meteors."
Another tip: Make sure to stay warm and get comfortable.
"If you have a lawn chair that reclines, use it during your search for Leonid meteors since it will help keep your neck from getting stiff as well as make it easier to look at the night sky," Rao said.
The Leonid meteor shower is an annual event that returns every mid-November. The shower is caused by material left behind the comet Tempel-Tuttle when it passes near Earth's orbit during its regular trip through the solar system.
So see if your kids would be willing to get up a little earlier to see a spectacular event. It will be a great family experience.
Also check out:
A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky ~ Michael Driscoll
No comments:
Post a Comment