By Brian Campued
About 15 meteor showers per hour are expected to grace the night sky during the peak activity of the Leonid meteor shower on Nov. 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its astronomical diary for the month, PAGASA said the meteor shower has been visible since Nov. 6 and will continue until Nov. 30.
Citing the International Meteor Organization, the agency said the Leonid meteor shower is produced by the comet 55P-Temple Tuttle and “will be active once the radiant point, Leo, rises in the northeastern sky before midnight and continues before sunrise on Nov. 18.”
“The number of visible meteors increases as the radiant ascends to its highest point in the sky at around 5:00 a.m.,” it added.
However, the moon, during its first quarter phase, will affect the meteor shower viewing.
PAGASA advised the public to choose a dark observation site under clear and moonless sky conditions since the meteor showers can be viewed without using special equipment like telescopes and binoculars.
Meteor showers can be viewed without using special equipment like telescopes and binoculars.
—iro