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The Leonids Meteor Shower of November is set to peak on November 17, 2008. Scientists believe that there will be a major outburst between 12:01 AM and 12:30 AM Universal Time.

The peak of the 1998 Leonid meteor shower (rich in bright fireballs), shown in a four-hour time exposure through a fisheye lens, and taken by Juraj Toth of Modra Observatory. This photograph demonstrates how the meteors in a particular shower appear to emanate from a certain point in the sky called the radiant. On a given night, this radiant point will remain relatively stationary with respect to the background star constellations; but will rise, traverse the sky, and set in the same manner as the sun and moon.

How do you view this shower?
Find a nice dark spot away from man made lights, get a lawn chair and if you’re in a cold weather area please dress warmly. Sit back and look for the Big Dipper and navigate from the Big Dipper to the radiant in Leo. This map should help you find Leo. The view of the Big Dipper and the Constellation Leo will be different for everyone in the world.

The Leonids Meteor Shower in the past has been one of the most magnificent showers of the year. This year it seems it wasn’t as brilliant. I heard some great things from all the individuals who commented on this site about seeing gigantic meteors streak across the sky. My favorite remark I received came from Julian, where he said, “the moon did not want to share the stage tonight…” He not only personified the Moon but hit the nail on the head. It is surprising how much effect the Moon has on meteor shower viewing. But if you consider that meteors are usually the size of a grain of sand entering our atmosphere at speeds of 40,000 miles per hour or higher, it’s not so shocking.

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