Meteor showers

Why the most famous of these celestial spectacles are an annual event

The LeonidsWhile not the most consistent of meteor showers, the Leonids can be one of the most dynamic spectacles in an astronomer’s calendar. They’re a product of the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which has a radius of around 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) and has a 33-year cycle. The comet itself is fairly unremarkable compared to the likes of Halley’s or Hale-Bopp, however it leaves behind a dense stream of debris that results in a meteor shower rate that can reach as many as 300 meteors an hour. Meteors enter the Earth’s atmosphere all the time. Spend a little time looking up at the sky at night in the country or a place with similarly low light pollution and there’s a good chance you’ll see a ‘shooting star’, the result of air friction burning…

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How It Works Book of Space (Digital) - 1 Issue, How It Works Book Of Space 8th Edition

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