Meteor shower to light up Tuesday night
11/17/2009 | 08:26 AM
This Tuesday night, a meteor shower will light up the skies as the Leonids Meteor Shower is due to make an enhanced return.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said at least 40 meteors per hour are likely to be seen from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.
“Trails laid down by the comet in 1466 and 1533 are expected to be the chief contributors to this shower, which peaks on November 17, at about 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (the next day)," Pagasa head Prisco Nilo said.
“New Moon on November 17 ensures perfectly dark skies for observers of this shower under normal weather conditions," he added.
He said the Leonids Meteor Shower stems from bits of debris left behind by the repeat passages through the inner solar system of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.
Pagasa made this assessment based on theoretical work by Astronomers David Asher, Esko Lyytinen and Marku Nissinen, Mikhail Maslov, and Jeremie Vaubaillon.
Citing a statement from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Pagasa said observers in Asia and Europe may see as many as 100 meteors per hour.
“This year our planet will pass through this stream again, but this time closer to its center where more material will slam into our atmosphere. The meteoroids, typically the size of a sand grain, vaporizes as it travels downward in the atmosphere. Some pea-sized objects create dramatic fireballs," Nilo said.
But NASA, in a December 4, 2008 statement, hinted up to 500 meteors per hour can be seen.
“On Nov. 17, 2009, we expect the Leonids to produce upwards of 500 meteors per hour," said Bill Cooke of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in 2008. “That’s a very strong display."
NASA said that on Nov. 17, Earth will pass through the 1466 stream again, but this time closer to the center.
Based on the number of meteors observed in 2008, Vaubaillon estimated the strength of the coming display at 500 or more Leonids per hour during a few-hour peak centered on 21:43 UT (5:43 a.m.). - GMANews.TV
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said at least 40 meteors per hour are likely to be seen from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.
“Trails laid down by the comet in 1466 and 1533 are expected to be the chief contributors to this shower, which peaks on November 17, at about 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (the next day)," Pagasa head Prisco Nilo said.
“New Moon on November 17 ensures perfectly dark skies for observers of this shower under normal weather conditions," he added.
He said the Leonids Meteor Shower stems from bits of debris left behind by the repeat passages through the inner solar system of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.
Pagasa made this assessment based on theoretical work by Astronomers David Asher, Esko Lyytinen and Marku Nissinen, Mikhail Maslov, and Jeremie Vaubaillon.
Citing a statement from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Pagasa said observers in Asia and Europe may see as many as 100 meteors per hour.
“This year our planet will pass through this stream again, but this time closer to its center where more material will slam into our atmosphere. The meteoroids, typically the size of a sand grain, vaporizes as it travels downward in the atmosphere. Some pea-sized objects create dramatic fireballs," Nilo said.
But NASA, in a December 4, 2008 statement, hinted up to 500 meteors per hour can be seen.
“On Nov. 17, 2009, we expect the Leonids to produce upwards of 500 meteors per hour," said Bill Cooke of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in 2008. “That’s a very strong display."
NASA said that on Nov. 17, Earth will pass through the 1466 stream again, but this time closer to the center.
Based on the number of meteors observed in 2008, Vaubaillon estimated the strength of the coming display at 500 or more Leonids per hour during a few-hour peak centered on 21:43 UT (5:43 a.m.). - GMANews.TV
