M E T E O R S T O R M W A T C H

On the night of November 18/19, sky watchers will observe what promises to be the best meteor storm to come for a generation. Most years, the Leonid meteor shower produces only a few meteors a minute, but not so this year...

500 to 1000 Leonids per hour may be seen from many dark sky regions in Europe (avoid urban light and air pollution!) marking the first peak of the storm at about 04:00 UTC on Tuesday morning.

The second peak will occur about six hours later (5:30 AM EST, 2:30 AM PST) with an even bigger outburst over North America. As many as 2000 Leonids per hour may be seen over many dark sky regions of the United States (despite the almost full Moon!). Mountain tops (above the local aerosol layer) and the deserts of the Southwest (dry and pollution-free air) belong to the ideal locations to observe the Leonids.

The 2002 shower will probably be the last with the potential for storm activity for at least 29 years. Some predictions suggest that the next Leonid storm will not be seen until the year 2098...

Tips for observing the Leonids:

Location: Choose your viewing location wisely according to the conditions of weather and the urban light (and air) pollution. A trip to the country side, desert or any other remote dark sky location is highly recommended. The darker the sky, the more meteors will be seen.

Staying warm: Don't underestimate the temperatures you are about to face! Wear warm clothing (bring more layers than you think you need!) and crawl in a sleeping bag (flat on the ground looking up). A thermos with coffee, tea, hot chocolate or else will most likely be appreciated. Extra blankets may become useful in the colder morning hours.

The lunar glare: Staring at the Moon will ruin your night vision! Try to find an observing site with skies free of urban lights (especially toward the east), where you can lie down in the Moon light shadow of a tree, building or else. Look toward the darkest part of the sky. You may further minimize the lunar glare by choosing a viewing location where the air is dry and clear: Mountain tops (rising above the aerosol layer and above the more humid layers of the atmosphere) and deserts (in California, Arizona, New Mexico) are prime locations.

Earthgrazers: The remarkable Leonid earthgrazers produce long and colorful tails and will be seen on Monday evening between 11:00 PM and midnight.

Observing hours:

Start observing the first peak of the Leonids in Europe at 3:30 AM in the morning hours of Tuesday 11/19/02. The peak is expected for 5:00 AM (04:00 UTC). The show will end around 6:00 AM.

The second peak of the meteor storm will be visible over North America in the Tuesday morning hours:
The East Coast of the United States will start to experience increasing meteor rates around 4:00 AM. The peak will occur at 5:30 AM. Continue to watch until dawn.
The West Coast hours for Leonid observation lie between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, with the storm maximum occurring at 2:30 AM.

Leonid earthgrazers will be seen on Monday evening between 11:00 PM and midnight at all observing locations.

US Weather forecasts for the night of the Leonids:

Ideal Leonid observing conditions are expected for Arizona, the Mojave desert and Sierra in California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, the Southeast and Florida.
Conditions are not looking very promising for coastal regions and the Central Valley in California (fog!), the Northeast, Midwest and Northwest (overcast/cloud covers, rains, storms):

California: Widespread fog conditions in the Central Valley and the coastal areas are expected for tonight. You may want to consider visiting the Sierra Nevada or the Mojave desert (Joshua Tree Natl. Park, Mojave Natl. Monument) on Monday night/Tuesday morning. You might as well take the day off on Tuesday ;-)

Northeast, Midwest and Northwest of the US: Check local forecasts for tonight and maybe consider choosing an observing site traveling southward from your location (hundreds of miles if necessary...). It will be worth the effort!

Great locations to see the Leonid meteor storm:

The Sierra Nevada, Mt. Shasta, Joshua Tree Natl. Park, Mojave and Colorado Deserts, Death Valley, Black Rock Desert, the Colorado Plateau, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Bryce Canyon, Canyon Lands, Arches Natl. Park

Image Galleries:
The 2002 Leonids Meteor Gallery / spaceweather.com
The 2001 Leonid Meteor Storm

Other Leonid sites:
Armagh Observatory
The International Meteor Organization

All images © 2000 - 2023 Dirk Obudzinski