Leonids meteor shower to bring bright, colorful light show: How to watch

Joyce Orlando, USA TODAY NETWORK
·2 min read

Meteors will dance across this weekend as the Leonids meteor shower hits its peak.

The Leonids meteor shower has been going on since Nov. 2, but it will hit its peak this weekend and you can see it just about anywhere in Tennessee. This annual shower is considered to be a major shower even though things can be a little slow at times.

Leonids can produce 15 meteors per hour, but that is usually on the low end of things, according to NASA. In 1966, viewers got a glimpse of this meteor shower's true potential when it became a meteor storm as thousands of meteors per minute fell through Earth's atmosphere during a 15-minute period.

That kind of show only happens about every 33 years or so though, according to NASA. The last meteor storm associated with Leonid happened in 2002.

While this year's show isn't expected to be so spectacular it will still be an interesting show.

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When is the Leonids meteor shower peak?

The Leonids meteor shower will peak on Nov. 17-18. The celestial light show is active between Nov. 3 and Dec. 2 annually.

When can I see the Leonids meteor shower in Tennessee?

It's another late-night show. The best time to catch a glimpse of some meteors heading close to the midnight hour Saturday, Nov. 17 and into the dawn of Nov. 18.

You might also be able to catch a glimpse of some good ones before dawn on Nov. 17, according to EarthSky.org.

What is the Leonid meteor shower?

Pieces of space debris from comet Temple-Tuttle that interact with Earth's atmosphere create the Leonids meteor shower. Even though comet Tempel-Tuttle takes 33 years to orbit the sun once we still get a light show from it each year thanks to the trail of debris it has.

The Leonids meteor shower produces bright meteors and can also be colorful. Meteors in this shower are also considered some of the fastest, traveling at speeds up to 44 miles per second, according to NASA.

Where is the best place to view the Leonids meteor shower?

People in a city might want to get out of town for an evening to get the best view of the meteor shower this weekend.

Here are some tips from NASA to get the best view.

  • Find an area well away from the city or streetlights

  • Be prepared for winter temperatures with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair.

  • With your feet toward the east, lie flat on your back and look up. Take in as much of the sky as possible and in less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.

  • Be patient – the show lasts until dawn, so theres plenty of time to catch a glimpse.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Leonids meteor shower: When it is, peak viewing, more