LEON-IDS (Shooting Stars ) are Coming !

LEON-IDS (Shooting Stars ) are Coming !

The 2005 Leonids (Shooting Stars ) may be weak but Still we are all
awake to see what happens and how many Shooting Leonids can we See ?

Look in the East below the Pisces Constellation and Saturn Just right
to it. The RADIANT of the LEONID shooting stars is the Leo
Constellation. That is - the meteors appear to stream from that point
in the sky.

Timings : After the Leo Constellation Rises - that is after 2 am

LEONIDS :

The Leonids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet
Tempel-Tuttle. The meteor shower is visible every year around November
17 when the Earth moves through the Leonid meteor stream. The stream
comprises solid particles, known as meteoroids, ejected by the comet as
it passes by the Sun.

The Leonids are famous because their meteor showers, or storms, can be
among the most spectacular. In most years the rate at which meteors are
likely to be seen is not great; however, years of highly elevated rates
tend to follow a 33 year cycle, associated with the 33 year orbit of
Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Storms in peak years can feature thousands of
meteors per hour; notable events were observed in 1698, 1799, 1832,
1833, 1866, 1966, 1999, 2001 and 2002. During a strong storm in dark
viewing conditions the sky can appear to be "raining stars".

Are You Awake !

Please Report Your Meteor Count !

Clear Skies & Happy Planet Hunting !

Alay Pankaj Jhaveri, Astronomer & IAC Founder,
IAC Indian Astronomy Club, Learn, Explore & Discover !!!
H.O: B-23,Satellite Apartments,Jodhpur
Road,Ahmedabad-380015,Gujarat,India.
Tel: 91-79-50040855, 91-9376110855