Leonid Meteor Shower
Possibly big event next Wed. night 17-18 Nov.
- Named after point in sky where shooting stars appear to emanate from
- Perspective effect -- all trails are actually the same direction in space
- Same effect is seen
- driving through a snowstorm -- track of flakes appear to converge in the direction you’re driving
- apparent convergence of railroad tracks at the horizon
- These trails appear to emanate from Constellation Leo
- Leo rises in the E about midnight
- Look toward E at midnight
- Best chance for major storm in 1st hour after midnight
- If we’re lucky, could be several thousand per hour
- Based on extrapolation from big storms in 1966, 1866, 1833
- Abe Lincoln was very impressed by 1833 storm
- Inn keeper announced “Day of Judgment” at hand