LOOK UP IN THE SKY

[CAPTAINZING]

Look Up In The Sky
<HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message --><A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/byline/strongleonidmeteorshowerexpectedthisweekend/<br%20/>A%20brief%20surge%20of%20activity%20is%20expected %20begin%20around%2011:45%20p.m.%20ET%20Saturday,% 20Nov.%2018.%20In%20Europe,%20that%20corresponds%2 0to%20early%20Sunday%20morning,%20Nov.%2019%20at%2 04:45%20GMT.%20The%20outburst%20could%20last%20up% 20to%20two%20hours.<br%20/><br%20/>At%20the%20peak,%20people%20in%20these%20favorabl e%20locations%20could%20see%20up%20to%20150%20[URL="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/strongleonidmeteorshowerexpectedthisweekend/20941511/SIG=10v04ed1e/*http://www.space.com/meteors/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>[COLOR=#003399]shooting stars[/COLOR] per hour, or more than two per minute.

"We expect an outburst of more than 100 Leonids per hour," said Bill Cooke, the head of that the shooting stars during this peak period are likely to be faint, however, created by very small meteoroid grains.

Elsewhere people will see the typically enjoyable Leonid display of a few meteors each hour, weather permitting and assuming dark skies away from city lights [<A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/strongleonidmeteorshowerexpectedthisweekend<br%20/><br%20/>Since%20then%20the%20show%20has%20been%20back%20t o%20normal.%20But%20recent%20computer%20modeling%2 0suggests%20a%20brief%20outburst.<br%20/><br%20/>&quot;For%20parts%20of%20Europe,%20Africa%20and%2 0eastern%20North%20America,%20a%20far%20more%20pro lific%20Leonid%20show%20could%20be%20in%20the%20of fing%20this%20year,&quot;%20said%20Joe%20Rao,%20SP ACE.com's%20Skywatching%20Columnist.<br%20/><br%20/>This%20year%20is%20not%20expected%20to%20be%20as% 20memorable%20as%20some%20but%20well%20worth%20a%2 0look,%20astronomers%20say.%20The%20Leonids%20are% 20known%20for%20producing bright fireballs[/COLOR], which could occur at any time.

The Leonids are so-named because they appear to emanate from Leo. The meteors can race across the sky in any direction, but trace each one back and it'll point to Leo.

Other opportunities

Unfortunately for viewer's on the U.S. West Coast, the peak occurs before Leo rises. Outside of the expected peak, the best time to watch for Leonids is in the hours[/color], when the constellation Leo is high in the sky.

The Leonids are actually underway already, ramping up gradually to the peak. The event continues for several days after the peak. So any morning during this time could offer up a handful of meteors each hour. Other shooting stars from other sources typically grace the sky at low rates, too.

Flurries of enhanced activity can come at any time. Cooke suggests taking a look in the pre-dawn hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Up to 10 shooting stars per hour are possible any of these mornings.

How to watch

Precise prediction of meteor showers is an infant science, so those in position to observe the possible outburst should plan to head out a half-hour before the predicted peak, allowing eyes time to adjust to the dark, and stay out for up to a half hour after the expected peak.

No special equipment is needed. Telescopes and binoculars are of no use.
A lounge chair or blanket and warm clothes are all you need [<A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/strongleonidmeteorshowerexpectedthisweekend/20941511/SIG=11m5k86ou/*http://www.space.com/spacewatch/meteor_forecast.html" target=_blank rel=nofollow>meteor watching tips]. Find a dark location with a clear view of the Eastern horizon. Lie back, face East, and scan as much of the sky as you can . You never know exactly where a <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/strongleonidmeteorshowerexpectedthisweekend/20941511/SIG=11v15qek4/*http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/top10_leonidsfacts.html" target=_blank rel=nofollow>Leonid will appear.