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Oh boy oh boy!!

Shooting Stars!!!

Leonid meteors return for dazzling display

Observers of the night skies, take delight: Arriving fresh
on the heels of last Saturday's total lunar eclipse is the
annual Leonid meteor shower. Avid skywatchers are making plans to catch the show next Tuesday night, Nov. 18.

The meteorites should appear every two or three minutes, and astronomers say interested viewers should seek out clear dark skies away from any interfering city lights. No special equipment is required. The Leonid meteor shower gets its name because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, the lion. Leo will rise in the east around 1:00 a.m. EST and this year the predicted maximum number of meteorites is expected to occur at 2:28 a.m. For observers on the West Coast, Leo will be below the horizon, but the shower will be
visible in the east.

The Leonids are produced by the dust of a passing comet known as Tempel-Tuttle, which flies by the sun every 33 years. Solar heat and radiation cause tiny pieces to erode off the comet. Each fragment hits Earth's atmosphere traveling at up to 160,000 mph, carrying enough energy to cause the familiar bright streak many people call a "shooting" or "falling" star.