Aussies treated to month-long meteor shower as Leonids light up
A spectacular Leonids meteor shower is going to light up the night sky right across the nation throughout November – here’s how earthbound Aussies of all ages can catch the cosmic light show
READING LEVEL: GREEN
A stunning meteor* shower will light up the Australian night sky throughout November as the Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Tempel-Tuttle*.
The annual Leonids* meteor shower will stream across the sky from Monday before it peaks around the mornings of November 17 and 18.
The meteor shower will last until early next month as Earth passes through the meteor stream in space, EarthSky reported.
The astronomy* based website reported the meteor would rise about midnight and be at its highest peak in the sky at dawn.
The astronomers said it might be possible to see up to 15 Leonid meteors per hour under a dark sky with no moon.
“The famous Leonids meteor shower produced one of the greatest meteor storms in living memory,” EarthSky stated on its website.
“Rates were as high as thousands of meteors per minute during a 15-minute span on the morning of November 17, 1966.
“That night, Leonids meteors did, briefly, fall like rain.
“Some who witnessed it had a strong impression of Earth moving through space, fording* the meteor stream.”
The meteor shower is named Leonids because it emerges from the star constellation* Leo* that takes about 33 years to orbit around the sun, Time and Date reported on its website.
A spokesman said the meteor shower could be viewed by anyone and would not require special equipment to see it under the right conditions.
They recommended people find a secluded* spot away from city lights and allow about 20 minutes for their eyes to adjust to the dark.
“Once you have found your viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look at the sky,” the spokesman said.
“The higher the radiant* is above the horizon, the more meteors you are likely to see.
“Meteor showers appear to originate from the radiant, but meteors can appear in any part of the sky.”
POLL
GLOSSARY
- meteor: a piece of rock or metal that burns very brightly when it enters Earth’s atmosphere from space
- Leonids: the meteor showers visible annually about November 16, so named as they appear to radiate from the constellation known as Leo the Lion
- astronomy: the scientific study of the universe and of objects that exist naturally in space, such as the moon, the sun, planets and stars
- Comet Tempel-Tuttle: discovered independently by Tempel and Tuttle between 1865 and 1866, comet 55P is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 33 years and according to Britannica is associated with a period of meteor showers, with records traced back to about AD 902
- fording: crossing, wading, as in fording a river at a point where the water is shallow
- constellation: any of the groups of stars in the sky that seem from Earth to form a pattern and which have been given names
- Leo: a large constellation said to look like a lion
- secluded: quiet, private, and not near people, roads or buildings
- radiant: the region of sky from which a meteor shower appears to originate due to perspective
EXTRA READING
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QUICK QUIZ
- What was the source of the debris Earth will pass through this month?
- When is the Leonids meteor expected to peal?
- In 1966, what was the estimated rate of visible meteor sightings?
- Why is the shower known as the Leonids?
- How long does it take the Leonids to orbit the sun?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Meteor showers
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris left by a comet, like the upcoming Leonid meteor shower.
Draw a simple diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the comet’s path.
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Where might you watch this upcoming Leonid meteor show so that you have a good viewing point? What time might you plan for and how will you watch for the meteors?
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
Proper noun police
A proper noun is a noun that names a particular person, place or thing. It always has a capital letter.
How many proper nouns can you find within this article? Find them all and sort them into the category of name, place, time (date/month).
Can you find any proper nouns included in your writing?
What are they?
Can you sort them into their categories?