Leonids meteor shower to start peaking Monday evening

If the weather cooperates, skywatchers could get to see the Leonids meteor shower peak starting Monday evening, state astronomers from PAGASA said.

While PAGASA said this year's Leonids may not be as prolific as in past years, stargazers could still see about 10 meteors per hour during this time.

"One of the most prolific meteor showers is the Leonids. Its radiant is in the constellation of Leo and meteors from this shower can be seen over a period of about two days centered on approximately the early morning hours of November 18 in the eastern section of the sky," acting administrator Vicente Malano said.

He noted the Leonids meteor shower is created by debris left by the repeat passages through the inner solar system of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.

Relatively clear view

EarthSky.org said there could be a relatively clear view of the meteor shower as the "rather unobtrusive waning crescent moon won’t really dampen the view on the shower’s peak night."

It said that with no Leonid storm expected this year, there could be "about 10 to 15 meteors per hour at the peak, in the darkness before dawn."

"As with most meteor showers, the best time to watch the Leonids is usually between the hours of midnight and dawn. The expected peak night is November 17-18, and fortunately, the waning light of the lunar crescent moon won’t seriously jeopardize the view of this year’s production in the morning hours," it said.— Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Meteor shower on Monday night, but bright moon may spoil view

An expected bright moon threatens to spoil stargazers' view of a meteor shower Monday night, state astronomers said.

PAGASA space sciences and astronomy section head Engineer Dario dela Cruz said the Perseids meteor shower may peak starting Monday night with up to 120 meteors per hour.

But dela Cruz, in an interview on dzBB radio, said only about 30 meteors per hour may be visible due to the interference from the bright moon.

"Mamaya sa silangan bago mag-hatinggabi hanggang magdamag inaasahan natin itong shower na ito na magbibigay ng 120 meteors per hour. Pero dahil sa maliwanag ang buwan, posibleng makakita tayo ng 30," he said.

He said that while the meteor show will continue on Tuesday night, there will not be as many meteors visible by then.

Earlier, PAGASA said the bright moon can "cast an interfering glare across the nights of maximum activity, reducing visibility from 120 meteors per hour (the typical Perseid peak rate) to less than 30."

Similarly, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the "nearly full moon" may "upstage the show" by the Perseids.

NASA said the Perseids are active from July 17 to Aug. 24 this year.

"The Perseid meteor shower is known as one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing fast and bright meteors that frequently leave trains, but in 2014, a nearly full moon will upstage the show," it said.

Perseids are considered to be the best meteor shower of the year as the meteors are "very fast and bright" and often leave long "wakes" of light and color.

NASA added Perseids are known for their fireballs, larger explosions of light and color.

"This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of cometary material. Fireballs are also brighter, with magnitudes brighter than -3," it said.

NASA suggested that stargazers view the Perseids in the Northern Hemisphere before dawn or as early as 10 p.m.

"Find an area well away from city or street lights. Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing northeast and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors," it said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com