When the Leonids fly across the sky, stargazers know that the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle is nearby. Every year, the iconic meteor shower offers a spectacular show… and experts say this weekend is going to be particularly special.
Between November 3rd and December 2nd, but especially during the weekend of November 16-17, the Leonids will be unusually easy to see and appreciate, according to the American Meteor Society. Between the night of November 16th into the early hours of November 17th, and then again from late dawn November 17th into early November 18th, Technically speaking, the Leonids are nothing more than pieces of ice, rock and dust that turn into streaking flashes of light as they burn up in the atmosphere and Tempel-Tuttle makes its annual journey around Earth. The 2.24 miles-diameter comet also eventually orbits the Sun, although this takes 33 years.
