A cosmic light show is expected this week with the return of the annual Leonid meteor shower in the night sky.
The main period of meteor streaks is set to begin Tuesday and peak the morning of Nov. 17, between 12:30 and 2:30 a.m., Sacramento State astronomy Professor Chris Taylor said.
The Leonids have produced some of the most spectacular astronomic shows recorded. In 1998, as many as 1,000 meteors per hour were recorded from peak viewing locations on Earth, Taylor said.
This year, about 500 streaks per hour are expected to be visible from Asia, a prime viewing spot, Taylor said. In Sacramento, viewers may see a meteor flash overhead at the rate of one every two to three minutes.
"That's about 20 to 30 meteors an hour," compared to a normal rate of one per hour, Taylor said. "It's definitely worth seeing."
Viewing may be difficult most of this week in Sacramento, where weather systems are expected to bring cloudy skies the week. But the shower will continue to be visible for several days after the peak as the earth exits the trail of comet dust that produces the meteors.
Call The Bee's Robert D. Davila, (916) 321-1079.
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