Keep your eyes to the sky: It's Leonid time!

By Taylor on November 16, 2012 in Blog

A photo taken in Arizona during the Leonid storm of 1966. Photo: HowStuffWorks

If you’re still searching for some exciting Friday night plans, why not consider bundling up, hopping in the car and laying out under the stars.

We know it may be a little chilly for stargazing, but for the annual Leonid meteor shower we think we can make an exception.

This year’s Leonid shower is expected to peak just before dawn tomorrow, Nov. 17, which means tonight is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of this gorgeous natural phenomenon.

Named after its radiant constellation Leo the Lion, the Leonid meteor shower is one of the most visible cosmic events. Throughout history, the Leonids have resulted in a number of meteor storms, where large quantities of meteors are visible over a very short period of time.

Though during a normal occurrence, experts estimate that an annual Leonid shower may drop between 12 to 13 tons of particles around the world.

While it’s unlikely we’ll experience a Leonid storm this year, under a dark sky away from harsh city lights, you may be able to spot as many as 10 to 15 meteors per hour.