Australians will be treated to a “spectacular” meteor shower when the Earth passes through a “very brilliant” and colorful meteor shower.
On Friday morning at approximately 2:30 a.m., the Leonid meteor shower can be seen across the country as it streaks by, leaving a dazzling trail in its wake.
Stargazers will be able to observe the intergalactic display, which is actually the ‘dust’ left behind by a comet that orbits the sun every 33 years.
The meteors emanate from the stars that make up the constellation Leo the Lion and exhibit magnificent fireballs with long, brilliant and colorful meteor streaks (pictured)
The Leonid storm might not have the most meteors, but they can be extremely bright, according to astronomer Stuart Clark (shown, Leonid meteors race over the stars of the constellation Orion).
According to astronomer Stuart Clark, the Leonid storm does not feature the most meteors, but they can be extremely bright.
“They enter our atmosphere at approximately 70 kilometers per second and can be incredibly bright and colorful,” he wrote for the Guardian.
The meteors originate from the stars that make up the constellation Leo, the Lion, and exhibit stunning fireballs with long, bright, and colorful meteor trails.
They have also been observed to produce golden hues throughout the sky.
The meteor shower is far easier to observe with the naked eye than with telescopes.
‘This morning, rising early is certainly a worthy endeavor. irrespective of the outcome,’ the Bureau of Meteorology stated.
Leonid meteor display
From approximately 14 to 20 November, the Leonid meteor shower occurs as the Earth travels through an ancient debris stream left by previous journeys of the comet Temple-Tuttle.
Typically, the peak rate comes within a few days of November 17 and is less than 10 per hour.
The meteors appear to originate from a radiant within the “sickle” of the constellation Leo (hence the name).
A peculiar characteristic of this stream is that it is frequently accompanied with rather brilliant meteors that may leave behind a train that is visible for several seconds or even minutes.
The meteors travel extremely quickly, and the brightest meteors may have a golden hue. These meteors are actually the quickest meteor stream ever measured.
The Bureau of Meteorology is the source.
Astrophysicist Kirsten Banks told The Morning Show that it is far easier to observe this meteor shower with the naked eye than with a telescope.
Ms. Banks advised, “After 2:30 a.m., find an area with minimal light pollution, lie down, and watch these meteors shine.”
She said that the Leonid meteor shower is one of the swiftest yearly meteor showers.
The Bureau of Meteorology stated that Australians will be able to witness the ‘very stunning’ meteor storm, but cautioned that it will likely be a’much less intense shower of a few hundred meteors per hour’
‘This morning, rising early is certainly a worthy endeavor. whatever transpires,’ it stated.
The Bureau of Meteorology noted, “Those with overcast skies may still be able to monitor any activity by tuning to a distant FM station (not ordinarily heard), using an external antenna, and listening for signal bursts.”
Friday’s Leonid meteor shower viewing locations
NSW
Sydney: Precipitation onset expected to rise at 2:14 a.m. on November 18 and to set at 12:14 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Newcastle: Precipitation onset expected to rise at 2:10 a.m. on November 18 and set at 12:14 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Wollongong: Precipitation will rise at 2.17 am on November 18 and set at 12.14 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Coffs Harbour: A shower’s origin will rise at 1:58 a.m. on November 18 and set at 12:14 p.m. Visibility will be excellent. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Port Macquarie: The onset of showers will begin at 2:02 a.m. on November 18 and set at 12:13 p.m. Visibility will be excellent. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Dubbo: Precipitation to begin at 2:21 am on November 18 and end at 12:28 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Bourke: Precipitation onset expected to rise around 2.27am on November 18 and set at 12.44pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Albury: Precipitation onset expected to peak around 2.37am on November 18 and set at 12.26pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Wagga Wagga: Precipitation to begin at 2.33 a.m. on November 18 and end at 12.26 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Victoria
Melbourne: Precipitation will rise at 2.49 am on November 18 and set at 12.29 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Geelong: Precipitation to begin at 2.52 a.m. on November 18 and end at 12.31 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Bendigo: Precipitation to begin at 2:49 am on November 18 and conclude at 12:35 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Ballarat: Precipitation to begin at 2.53 a.m. on November 18 and end at 12.34 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Shepparton: Precipitation will rise at 2.44 am on November 18 and set at 12.31 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Mildura: Precipitation onset expected to rise at 2.51 am on November 18 and set at 12.49 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Wodonga: Precipitation onset expected to peak around 2.37am on November 18 and set at 12.26pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Queensland
The onset of showers in Brisbane is forecast to begin at 12:53 am on November 18 and last at 11:21 am, with visibility being excellent. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Gold Coast: Precipitation onset expected to peak at 12:52 am on November 18 and set at 11:18 am with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Sunshine Coast: Precipitation onset expected to peak at 12:51 am on November 18 and set at 11:23 am with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Toowoomba: Precipitation will peak at 12:57 am on November 18 and set at 11:25 am with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Rockhampton: Precipitation onset will rise at 12:55 a.m. on November 18 and set at 11:39 a.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Mackay: Precipitation onset will rise at 12:56 a.m. on November 18 and set at 11:48 a.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
The onset of showers in Bundaberg is forecast to begin at 12:53 am on November 18 and end at 11:29 am, with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Cairns: A shower’s origin will rise at 1.02 a.m. on November 18 and set at 12.10 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Townsville: Precipitation will begin to increase on November 18 at 1:02 a.m. and set at 12:01 p.m. Visibility will be excellent. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
ACT
The onset of precipitation in Canberra is forecast to begin at 2.26am on November 18 and end at 12.19pm, with visibility being excellent. The moon and poor weather conditions may reduce visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
southeastern Australia
The onset of precipitation is forecast to begin at 2:37 am on November 18 and to end at 12:32 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Mount Gambier: A shower’s origin will rise at 2:36 a.m. on November 18 and set at 12:16 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Tasmania
Hobart: Precipitation onset to begin at 2:54 a.m. on November 18 and to end at 12:05 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Launceston: Precipitation onset expected to peak at 2.51 am on November 18 and set at 12.10 pm with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Southwest Australia
The onset of precipitation in Perth is forecast to occur around 1.31am on November 18 and to dissipate at 11.40am, with visibility being excellent. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
The precipitation will begin to rise in Kalgoorlie on November 18 at 1:06 am and dissipate at 11:20 am, with visibility being excellent. The moon and poor weather conditions may reduce visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Broome: Precipitation onset will rise at 12:38 a.m. on November 18 and set at 11:42 a.m. with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
The Northern Territories
The onset of precipitation is forecast to begin at 1:24 a.m. on November 18 and end at 12:47 p.m., with excellent visibility. The moon may result in diminished visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.
Alice Springs: Precipitation will begin to rise at 1.32 a.m. on November 18 and set at 12.15 p.m. with excellent visibility. The moon and poor weather conditions may reduce visibility. Expect up to 10 meteors every hour.