Leonid meteor shower to peak next week

The famous Leonid meteor shower is set to peak next week. This year is expected to provide especially good viewing as the moon is expected to be absent. The meteors are shed by the Temple-Tuttle comet which comes through the solar system every 33 years.

SPACE.com) -- Next week brings us the return of the famous Leonid meteor shower, a display that has brought great anticipation and excitement to sky watchers around the world.

From a viewing standpoint, this will be a favorable year to look for these meteors. The moon will be only a thin crescent and will set in the west long before the constellation Leo (from where the meteors get their name) begins to rise.

This is in stark contrast to 2002 when a nearly full moon lit up the sky like a spotlight and wiped out all but the brightest meteors. Last year, conditions were much better. The moon slimmed to a narrow crescent in the predawn morning sky and offered little interference. This year, the moon will be completely absent and provide perfect viewing conditions.

Meteors

Hope that I will get to view it from NY.