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Monday, November 16, will see the peak of the Leonid meteor shower. During the early morning hours of November 16 and November 17, an average of 15 shooting stars will take to the sky every hour.
The Leonids are one of the most prolific showers of the year, as fast and bright shooting stars will be seen in the hours between midnight and sunrise.
The Leonids are the result of Earth’s journey through the debris left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
Small specks of ice left in the comet’s wake collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, giving the appearance of shooting stars.
The US space agency NASA said: “When comets circle the sun, the dust they emit gradually spreads in a dusty trail around their orbits.
“Every year, the Earth passes through these debris trails, allowing the pieces to collide with our atmosphere, where they disintegrate to create streaks of fire and colors in the sky.”
According to astronomers, to detect meteors, simply look for the star constellation Leo in the night sky, hence the name Leonids.
Viewers should be eagle-eyed, however, as Leonids soar through the skies at 158,400 mph (254,920 km / h), the fastest known meteor shower.
When looking for the best place to view the meteor shower, you must take into account the amount of light present.
READ MORE: Fireball Video: Western America Detects ‘Most Amazing’ Meteor
“However, if the peak is missed, the rain continues at a reduced rate for several days on both sides, so there should be plenty of screen viewing opportunities.
“For the best conditions, you want to find a safe place away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.
“Meteors can be seen everywhere in the sky, so it’s nice to be in an open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes.
“But if you trace the paths that the meteors take, they appear to originate in the constellation Leo.”
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