When can I see the 2009 leonid meteor shower?
There are hundreds of meteors that streak through the atmosphere of the earth each and every day and night. There are times when the earth passes through what was the path of a comet and our atmosphere will pick up a lot of tiny specks of dust left behind from that comet. When that happens, it is called a meteor shower. There are many meteor showers every year. Meteor showers can occur several days prior and several days after their projected peak time. Think about the rotation of the earth. As the Earth spins, it moves into the path of the dust in space so you want to look mostly towards the east and near the constellation that the shower is named for. The darker the sky in your viewing location, then the more you can see of even the fainter meteors. If you are in a light polluted area, you will only be able to see the biggest and most bright meteors. They are best to watch if you have a friend with you. http://www.imo.net/cale
