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Holiday Season is Meteor Shower Season

Look to the skies for some stunning light displays this November and December.

 

As you hang holiday lights and light the candles, cast your eyes upon the universe's natural fireworks as well. 

Astronomers anticipate three meteor showers this November and December. 

Nov. 12: Taurid Meteor Shower

The Taurid meteors are expected to peak Nov. 12 in the early morning hours just after midnight. EarthSky.com reports that this slow-moving, modest shower may yield just 10 meteors per hour.

"But even one bright meteor can be a treat, especially since a good percentage of the Taurid meteors tend to produce fireballs!" according to the website. The shower is visible anywhere in the world and will appear to radiate from the Pleiades star cluster.

Nov. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower

After years of heavier-than-average showers, the famous Leonids have returned and are expected to peak on Nov. 17 in the pre-dawn hours. These meteors are fast (about 40 miles per second) and can leave trails of smoke, according to Astronomy.com. They will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo the Lion.

"Many Leonids are also bright. Usually, the meteors are white or bluish-white, but in recent years some observers reported yellow-pink and copper-colored ones," according to the website

Dec. 13: Geminid Meteor Shower

The last shooting star cluster before New Year's is the Geminid Meteor Shower, expected to peak in the pre-dawn hours after midnight between Dec. 13 and Dec. 15.

They will be visible in all parts of the sky and streak through the sky at more than 50 meteors per hour, almost a meteor a minute, according to EarthSky.com. The new moon is expected to fall on Dec. 13, making for optimal dark skies—as long as you avoid city lights and clouds, the website states.  

Be sure to schedule a night this season to bundle up, lay out some blankets (if it's dry) and enjoy the light show in the sky. 

Share your tips for photographing the showers. Tell us your favorite places to sneak off to view the skies. 

Related Topics: 2012 meteor showers, Geminid meteor shower, Leonid Meteor Shower, and Taurid Meteor Shower

Darby Terry

11:17 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012

I appreciated this column drawing attention to the meteor showers. Unfortunately, I missed the shower on November 12th but will try to catch the other meteor showers.

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Jackie Gibson

3:03 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012

I'm on aus and Late yesterday afternoon looking from the gold coast qld inland there i saw a orange line of fire moving very quickly leaving a trail of white smoke. It was amazing to watch but I did panic, it looked as though it was heading for the ground. It was moving faster than u could imagine was weird but no media coverage? What's going on?

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