The Leonid Meteor Shower (Tonight)
Credit & Copyright: P. Jenniskens
(NASA
/Ames)
Explanation:
Tonight thousands of icy rocks will hurl toward
Earth in a fascinating display of light called the
Leonid Meteor Shower.
There is little danger - few will reach the ground. But this
year's
Leonids
could be nothing compared to the
Leonids in 1998.
Then, the Leonids
might rival any meteor storm this century,
with peak rates possibly toping 40 per second.
Meteor showers
result from
debris left by passing comets.
The Leonids specifically are small pieces of
Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
In the
above
series of time-lapse, 1-minute exposures,
a 1995 Leonid is seen to leave a train of hot air that glowed
persistently for several minutes.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
