Meteor Shower November 2009, Leonid Meteor Shower November 2009 Photos

Leonid meteor storm will break over the US, North America and Western Africa on the morning of Wednesday, November 18, 2009 (Indian time). This will emit a bright shower of shooting stars in the atmosphere, which can be observed with the naked eye. The Leonid meteor storm is expected to emit 30-300 meteors every hour, depending on where you are stationed. This is higher than average, but not as high as in 1833 – when over a hundred thousand meteors lit up the skies. In North America, skywatchers may be able to witness about 30 meteors pouring into the sky, while those in Asia may be able to catch about 300 meteors every hour. Leonid meteor showers are some of the most prominent among the shooting stars visible to the naked eye. “We’re predicting 20 to 30 meteors per hour over the Americas, and as many as 200 to 300 per hour over Asia,” says Bill Cooke of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. “Our forecast is in good accord with independent theoretical work by other astronomers.” Nasa astronomers said last December – immediately after the last Lenoid shower – that in 2009, the meteor shower will be bigger and brighter. According to them, the November 2008 Leonid storm of shooting stars broke several earlier years of relative “quiet.” Watch Leonid meteor shower In India, meteor watchers will be able to view the Leonid meteor shower and click their photos on the night of November 17 starting 1030 PM. The number of meteors slamming down on the atmosphere will steadily increase till the first light of dawn. Though skywatchers in North America and Europe will be able to witness the Leonid shooting stars, this time it will be the night owls in South Asia and Australia who will have a better view. Viewers in India, China and Indonesia will have the advantage having clear, pre-dawn skies to watch the Leonid meteor spectacle. According to a Nasa document, India has the least cloudy weather among the favourable viewing regions. Nasa also adds that the near-new moon will also improve visibility of the Leonid meteor shower.